Novel Noninvasive Assessment of Microvascular Structure and Function in Humans

Introduction Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel high-resolution imaging technique capable of visualising in vivo structures at a resolution of ~10 μm. We have developed specialised OCT-based approaches that quantify diameter, speed and flow rate in human cutaneous microvessels. In this study we hypothesized that OCT-based microvascular assessments would possess comparable levels of reliability when compared to those derived using conventional laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Methods Speckle decorrelation images (OCT) and red blood cell flux (LDF) measures were collected from adjacent forearm skin locations on two days (48 hours apart), at baseline and following a 30-minute rapid local heating protocol (30○C–44○C) in 8 healthy young individuals. OCT post-processing quantified cutaneous microvascular diameter, speed, flow rate and density (vessel recruitment) within a region of interest and data were compared between days. Results Forearm skin LDF (13±4 to 182±31 AU, p

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