Relationship between Peripheral Blood Flow in Extremities and Choroidal Circulation

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund: Das Ziel dieser Studie war das Verhältnis zwischen der peripheren und chorioidalen Zirkulation zu erforschen. Patienten und Methoden: Durch Die Aderhautdurchblutung (ADB) wurde mittels der Laser-Doppler-Flowmetrie in 73 gesunden Probanden gemessen. Basierend auf der Anamnese von kalten Händen und Füßen wurden die Studienteilnehmer in drei Gruppen unterteilt, nämlich solche „nie”, solche „manchmal” und solche „immer” mit kalten Akren. Zur objektiven Erfassung der Temperatur an den Fingerspitzen wurde ein Infrarotthermometer (IRT) benutzt. Varianzanalyse der ADB zwischen der Gruppen und zusätzlich eine Korrelation der ADB und IRT wurde durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: Die Gruppenverteilung war folgendermaßen: 37 Probanden in der Gruppe mit „nie” kalten Akren, 20 in der Gruppe mit „manchmal” und 16 Probanden in der Gruppe mit „immer” kalten Akren. Das durchschnittliche Alter war 44,2 ± 12,9 Jahre. ADB war in den Gruppen jeweils 11,5 ± 7,3 AU (arbiträre Einheiten), 13,6 ± 6,1 AU and 14,3 ± 4,6 AU. ANOVA P-Wert betrug 0,04, Pearson’s R für die Korrelation zwischen ADB und IRT war – 0,51, p < 0,001. Schlussfolgerung: Subjektiv und objektiv kalte Akren sind mit einer höheren ADB assoziiert, möglicherweise wegen der Umverteilung der Durchblutung im Körper.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between subjectively estimated and objectively measured finger temperature on the one, and choroidal blood flow on the other side. Patients and Methods: We measured submacular choroidal blood flow (CBF) in 73 healthy subjects. Based on the history of cold hands and feet, they were divided in three groups, reporting ”never”, ”sometimes” and ”always” having cold extremities. As an objective measure of finger temperature, it was recorded at the fingertips with an infrared thermometer (IRT). Analysis of variance for CBF based on the group selection and with blood and intraocular pressures as covariates was performed, as well as the correlation between CBF and IRT. Results: There were 37 subjects in the group with ”never” cold extremities, 20 in the group with ”sometimes”, and 16 subjects in the group with ”always” cold extremities. Average age was 44.2 ± 12.9 years. CBF was 11.5 ± 7.3 AU (arbitrary units), 13.6 ± 6.1 AU and 14.3 ± 4.6 AU in the three groups, respectively. The ANOVA p-value was 0.04. Pearson’s R for correlation between CBF and IRT was – 0.51, p < 0.001. Conclusion: Subjectively and objectively, colder extremities are associated with higher CBF, possibly due to the redistribution of blood flow.

Schlüsselwörter

periphere und chorioidale Zirkulation - Fingertemperatur

Key words

peripheral and choroidal circulation - finger temperature

References

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1 The first two authors contributed equally to this work.