SKIN FLUX AND THE VENOARTERIOLAR RESPONSE IN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Vasoconstriction is considered an important factor in patients with hy pertension. The presence of skin flow reduction and the decrease in th e venoarteriolar response (the skin flow decrease due to postural chan ges such as standing of lowering the leg below heart level) were studi ed in normal subjects and in patients with essential hypertension with laser-Doppler flowmetry. Measurements were repeated after a period of four weeks treatment with nifedipine. Laser-Doppler skin flux when th e patient was resting supine and with the foot 50 cm below heart level was significantly lower than in normals. Also the venoarteriolar resp onse was significantly reduced in hypertensives. After nifedipine trea tment a significant increase in skin flux and improvement of the venoa rteriolar response were observed. In conclusion laser-Doppler flowmetr y can be used in hypertensives to quantify skin flow reduction, the al tered venoarteriolar response and possibly the effects of drugs on the microcirculation.