Peripheral microcirculatory hemodynamic changes in patients with myocardial ischemia.

Background: Patients with coronary heart disease demonstrate changes in skin microcirculation and a decrease in cutaneous blood mass.

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the feasibility of diagnosing myocardial ischemia based on peripheral microcirculatory variables.

Methods: The skin microcirculatory measurements were monitored using an LPT system comprising a Laser Doppler Flowmeter (LDF), a photoplethysmograph (PPG) and a transcutaneous oxygen tension device (tc-PO2).