Post-occlusive reactive hyperemic response of skin microcirculation among extremely obese patients in the short and long term after bariatric surgery.

Objective: To assess changes of post-occlusive reactive hyperemic response in skin microcirculation among extremely obese patients 10 days and 6 months after bariatric surgery for patients with and without hypertension.

Methods: Skin blood flow was measured using PeriFlux laser Doppler fluxmetry. Data were analyzed in the entire group and two subgroups: with and without hypertension.

Results: Data from 88 patients (mean age 42.1 ± 11.2 years, 40.5% men) were analyzed. Six months after bariatric surgery, the time to reach peak flows had been shortened (2.4 ± 1.7 vs 2.1 ± 1.0 seconds, P < .05) and the area of hyperemia had increased (1027 ± 791 vs 1386 ± 699 AU*s, P < .05). The total power of post-occlusive reactive hyperemic after occlusion had been augmented mainly with power intensification of endothelial and myogenic origin. Post-occlusive reactive hyperemic parameters had changed mainly in the subgroup with hypertension. Variations of anthropometric parameters, metabolic characteristic, and adipokines mainly influenced on studied hyperemic flow parameters variations after the intervention in multiple regression analysis.

Conclusion: Cutaneous post-occlusive reactive hyperemic reactivity in time and frequency domains improved 6 months after bariatric surgery, and improvements in microvascular function were observed mainly in patients with hypertension. Variations of anthropometric parameters, metabolic characteristics, and adipokines had influence on hyperemic flow reactivity.