Microcirculation in high perfusion microangiopathy.

Using laser-Doppler flowmetry in association with other noninvasive microcirculatory techniques such as transcutaneous PO2 and PCO2 and capillary filtration measurements it is possible to define two major types of microangiopathy. Low perfusion microangiopathy (LPM) is observed in peripheral vascular disease, essential hypertension, Raynaud's disease etc. High perfusion microangiopathy (HPM) is observed in venous hypertensive microangiopathy and diabetic microangiopathy. In both these conditions there is an increased skin flux, decreased venoarteriolar response and increased capillary filtration leading to edema formation. In HPM elastic compression and drugs acting on capillary filtration effectively reduce skin flux and the increased capillary leakage and edema formation.