Microcirculation is similar in ischemic and venous ulcers.

Microcirculation of 15 ischemic and 15 venous ulcers, their scars, and intact surrounding skin were examined in order to demonstrate their similarities in the development and healing process. Subpapillary and nutritive perfusion of four areas were investigated by a laser Doppler perfusion imager (arbitrary units) and capillary microscopy (capillaries/mm2): one ulcer area without granulation tissue (no wound healing) and one with granulation tissue (ulcer healing); one skin area adjacent to the ulcer (1-8 mm) (scar developed from ulcer areas) and one distant (12-25 mm; intact skin). Areas without granulation tissue in ischemic and venous ulcers were similar, demonstrating a lack of capillaries (0.

Microcirculation in venous ulcers and the surrounding skin: findings with capillary microscopy and a laser Doppler imager.

Background: To obtain more information about microcirculatory disturbances in venous ulcers, we studied their laser Doppler flux images and capillary densities.

Materials And Methods: On photographs of venous ulcers and the adjacent skin of 17 patients, four regions of interest were marked: one non-granulation tissue area (NGTA) within the venous ulcer, one granulation tissue area (GTA) within the ulcer, one adjacent skin area (ASA) and one distant skin area (DSA). Within these four regions the average laser Doppler area fluxes and capillary densities were determined for each patient using a laser Doppler imager and capillary microscopy respectively.

Reproducibility of laser Doppler imager flux measurements within ischemic or venous ulcers and adjacent skin.

Background/aims: The laser Doppler imager (LDI) is a device that maps the local distribution of the laser Doppler flux of tissues. To facilitate the interpretation of LDI measurements, we investigated their reproducibility.

Methods: We measured 10 arterial ulcers, 10 venous ulcers and their adjacent skin by the use of a LDI.