CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF IMPAIRED MICROCIRCULATION

Various types of microcirculation disturbances have been described in the course of systemic diseases, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and the so-called ''idiopathic oedema'' syndrome. This article summarizes the relevant microcirculatory disorders associated with diabetes and t heir pathophysiology. These functional disorders occur before or in as sociation with anatomical lesions of diabetic microangiopathy. Increas ed capillary permeability to albumin is frequently observed in diabete s. In a placebo-controlled trial, Daflon 500 mg, a purified, micronize d, flavonoidic fraction, significantly improved this disorder. Patient s complaining of an oedematous syndrome almost always have an increase d extracellular fluid volume, probably largely due to increased capill ary permeability. Diabetes and ''idiopathic oedema'' therefore constit ute two examples of the major clinical implications of impaired microc irculation.