Measurement of tissue pH in skin by glass microelectrodes.

Alterations in metabolic activity may be used as an indicator of tissue perfusion and haemodynamic status in peripheral ischaemia. A new type of microelectrode was used to measure pH in the skin of patients with vascular disease, and a decrease in pH was demonstrated along the leg, commensurate with the severity of the disease. Measurement of skin pH by this technique is easy and may be useful for assessing tissue perfusion or skin viability in other conditions.