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. 2013 Mar-Apr;31(2 Suppl 76):109-14.
Epub 2012 Oct 22.

Alteration of microcirculation is a hallmark of very early systemic sclerosis patients: a laser speckle contrast analysis

Alessandra Della Rossa  1 , Massimiliano Cazzato, Anna d'Ascanio, Antonio Tavoni, Walter Bencivelli, Pasquale Pepe, Marta Mosca, Chiara Baldini, Marco Rossi, Stefano Bombardieri
Affiliations
  • PMID: 23073231

Alteration of microcirculation is a hallmark of very early systemic sclerosis patients: a laser speckle contrast analysis

Alessandra Della Rossa et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2013 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate blood flow and microvascular reactivity by laser speckle perfusion imager (Perimed, Jarfalla) in consecutive patients affected by Raynaud's phenomenon at baseline and following dynamic stimulations.

Methods: Skin blood flow in the dorsum of the hand was measured at baseline and after cold test and post-occlusive hyperemia test in 56 consecutive subjects affected by Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), 20 primary (PRP) and 36 secondary to systemic sclerosis (SSc). Twenty healthy subjects (HS) were studied as controls.

Results: After cold test, SSc had a significant reduction of blood flow (-58%) as compared to HS (-19%) (p=0.01). Recovery time was significantly higher in SSc (58 minutes) as compared to HS (18 minutes) and PRP (19 minutes) (p=0.006 and 0.0016, respectively). Peak flow after ischaemic test was significantly reduced in SSc (+237%) as compared to PRP (+485%) (p=0.0068). Post-ischaemic hyperemic area under the curve (AUC) was blunted in SSc (79U/sec) compared to PRP (167 U/sec) (p=0.0126). Proximal distal gradient was noticed in 74% of HS, 45% of PRP and 36% of SSc (p=0.01). Homogeneous pattern of flux distribution was significantly different between HS (95%), PRP (80%), and SSc (16%) (p<0.0001). Among SSc patients, a significant difference in ischaemic challenge was shown between patients with early-SSc versus patients with definite-SSc.

Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate a clearcut alteration of the dynamic of microcirculation in SSc-RP as compared to PRP and HS. Among SSc patients, early-SSc is a separate entity as compared to established disease.

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