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Review
. 2000 Dec;50(6):501-13.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00278.x.

Capillaroscopy and the measurement of capillary pressure

A C Shore  1
Affiliations
Review

Capillaroscopy and the measurement of capillary pressure

A C Shore. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000 Dec.

Abstract

Capillaries play a critical role in cardiovascular function as the point of exchange of nutrients and waste products between the tissues and circulation. Studies of capillary function in man are limited by access to the vascular bed. However, skin capillaries can readily be studied by the technique of capillaroscopy which enables the investigator to assess morphology, density and blood flow velocity. It is also possible to estimate capillary pressure by direct cannulation using glass micropipettes. This review will describe the techniques used to make these assessments and will outline some of the changes that are seen in health and disease.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A diagrammatic representation of a capillary microscope.
Figure 2
Figure 2
a) Skin capillaries on the dorsum of the finger. Magnification 173 fold. b) Normal nailfold capillaries. Magnification 173 fold
Figure 3
Figure 3
Measurement of nailfold capillary pressure.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Capillary pressure in men and women, age < 50 years (P < 0.001).
Figure 5
Figure 5
The effect of iontophoresis of acetylcholine or vehicle alone on nailfold capillary pressure in healthy volunteers. Acetylcholine caused a significant increase, in pressure P < 0.008. (reproduced with permission from [40]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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