On the suitability of laser-Doppler flowmetry for capturing microvascular blood flow dynamics from darkly pigmented skin

Objective : To assess the performance of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in measuring blood perfusion
from darkly-pigmented skin, i.e. skin with high melanin concentration. LDF provides for the
noninvasive monitoring of microvascular blood flow dynamics. It has been used extensively on
light-skinned subjects, i.e. on skin with low melanin concentration, in both the healthy and
pathological states. Because the optical properties of human skin might affect the reliability of
optically-based diagnostic equipment, the effectiveness of LDF needs to be checked and evaluated on
dark skin, too, if this method is to be useful in global healthcare. Approach : Thirteen
dark-skinned subjects and ten light-skinned subjects were included in the study. Microvascular blood
flow dynamics was measured on both the right and left ankles using LDF with a laser diode of
wavelength 780  nm. The characteristics of time-varying blood flow oscillations were investigated by
wavelet analysis, non...

Source: Physiological Measurement - July 31, 2019 Category: Physiology Authors: Yunus A Abdulhameed, Gemma Lancaster, Peter V E McClintock and Aneta Stefanovska Source Type: research