Evaluation of a combined laser Doppler flowmetry and iontophoresis technique for the assessment of equine cutaneous microvascular function

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluation of a combined laser Doppler flowmetry and iontophoresis technique for the assessment of equine cutaneous microvascular function

AU - McGorum, B. C.

AU - Milne, A. J.

AU - Tremaine, W. H.

AU - Sturgeon, B. P. R.

AU - McLaren, M.

AU - Khan, F.

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - A combined laser Doppler flowmetry and iontophoresis (LDFI) technique, used routinely to assess human microvascular function, was evaluated as a noninvasive technique for assessment of equine microvascular function, to facilitate the study of diseases such as laminitis. Baseline and vasoactive agonist-induced (acetylcholine and nitroprusside) microvascular flux was quantified at 2 sites (on the dorsal pastern adjacent to the coronary band and over the gluteals) in 6 clinically normal horses on 5 or 6 separate occasions under standardised conditions. Both agonists significantly increased microvascular flux. Skin pigmentation significantly attenuated the baseline flux, but not the magnitude of the agonist-mediated vasodilatory response. While LDFI was simple to perform, its value as a clinical and research tool for assessing the equine cutaneous microcirculation is limited by its poor reliability, as indicated by the marked intra- and intersubject variability in baseline and agonist-mediated microvascular flux.

AB - A combined laser Doppler flowmetry and iontophoresis (LDFI) technique, used routinely to assess human microvascular function, was evaluated as a noninvasive technique for assessment of equine microvascular function, to facilitate the study of diseases such as laminitis. Baseline and vasoactive agonist-induced (acetylcholine and nitroprusside) microvascular flux was quantified at 2 sites (on the dorsal pastern adjacent to the coronary band and over the gluteals) in 6 clinically normal horses on 5 or 6 separate occasions under standardised conditions. Both agonists significantly increased microvascular flux. Skin pigmentation significantly attenuated the baseline flux, but not the magnitude of the agonist-mediated vasodilatory response. While LDFI was simple to perform, its value as a clinical and research tool for assessing the equine cutaneous microcirculation is limited by its poor reliability, as indicated by the marked intra- and intersubject variability in baseline and agonist-mediated microvascular flux.

U2 - 10.2746/042516402776250289

DO - 10.2746/042516402776250289

M3 - Article

C2 - 12455846

SN - 0425-1644

VL - 34

SP - 732

EP - 736

JO - Equine Veterinary Journal

JF - Equine Veterinary Journal

IS - 7

ER -