An infrared thermographic and laser doppler flowmetric investigation of skin perfusion in the forearm and finger tip : following a short period of vascular stasis

Abstract

The use of Infrared Thermography to diagnose circulatory problems in the hands is based upon the assumption that a change in skin temperature can be related to a change in skin blood flow. In this study 7 healthy volunteers were exposed to a 3 min period of vascular stasis of the right arm. The resultant reactive hyperaemia with associated skin erythemia was monitored on the forearm and finger tip of the 2nd digit with Infrared Thermography (IR) and with Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF). Following vascular stasis clear increases in skin perfusion as measured with LDF were seen at both the finger tip and forearm. However, a concomitant increase in skin temperature was only seen at the finger tip. This finding indicates that changes in skin blood flow associated with skin reactive hyperaemia and its associated erythemia may not be the same as that used for thermoregulatory purposes. It is concluded that caution should be applied when using IR thermal imaging to monitor blood flow changes associated with induced changes in skin perfusion associated with erythemia. Keywords: