Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on June 29, 2004
Rheumatology 2004 43(10):1210-1218; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keh275
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Rheumatology Vol. 43 No. 10 © British Society for Rheumatology 2004; all rights reserved
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Laser Doppler imaging: a developing technique for application in the rheumatic diseases
1 University of Manchester Rheumatic Diseases Centre, Hope Hospital, Salford, 2 ARC Epidemiology Unit and 3 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Correspondence to: A. Murray, Laser Photonics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. E-mail: andi@fs4.ph.man.ac.uk
KEY WORDS: Rheumatology, Laser Doppler imaging, Raynaud's phenomenon, Scleroderma, CRPS, Inflammatory joint disease, Soft tissue lesion, Ulcer, Psoriasis
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| Introduction |
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Microcirculatory abnormalities contribute to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of many of the rheumatic diseases. This is best recognized in systemic sclerosis (SSc), in which structural microvessel disease can be well demonstrated using the technique of capillary microscopy [1], and more recently by video and digital capillaroscopy [2, 3]. However, in many other conditions the microvasculature is more subtly involved. By the microvasculature we mean the arterioles, the capillaries and the venules. Any inflammatory state is associated with profound microvascular perturbation. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis the synovial microvasculature undergoes major change with formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) in the hypertrophied synovium and with lymphocyte trafficking through high endothelial venules. These high endothelial venules are lined by specialized endothelial cells whose formation has been induced during the inflammatory process. [4].
In the study of disease, we must be concerned not only with understanding
| Background to laser Doppler blood flow monitoring |
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| Laser Doppler imaging (scanning laser Doppler) |
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Assessment of burns
Assessment of dermal inflammation
Assessment of wound healing
Assessment of cutaneous ulceration
| Applications of laser Doppler imaging in rheumatology |
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Primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon
Inflammatory joint disease
Complex regional pain syndrome
Soft tissue lesions
Psoriasis
Cutaneous ulceration
| Application of different wavelengths |
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| Cautionary notes |
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| Future developments |
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| Conclusions |
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