Evaluation of serial application of capillaroscopy, photoplethysmography, and dermothermometry in diagnosis and prevention of radiolesions of peripheral microvessels.

This study was performed with the aim of evaluating the justifiability of serial application of nailfold capillaroscopy, digital dermothermometry and digital photoplethysmography in the diagnosis of vascular radiolesions in subjects occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. Thirty-eight exposed examinees, as well as 30 control persons, were included in the study. In order to establish the condition of the peripheral blood flow, each subject was examined by all the three methods. The results of this work and their statistical evaluation showed the nailfold capillaroscopy and digital dermothermometry to be the most suitable combination of methods for detection of initial changes on the smallest skin blood vessels, subsequent to skin irradiation, while the use of photoplethysmography should be limited to such cases where alterations of digital arterioles are expected.