Normal variation in cutaneous blood content and red blood cell velocity in humans

Abstract

This study was designed to determine normal variations in cutaneous blood content, red blood cell content and skin thickness in healthy human volunteers. The blood content (BC) of human skin and the velocity of red blood cells (RBV) has been comprehensively mapped over 30 anatomical sites in 28 volunteers between the age of 7 and 77 years using reflectance spectrophotometry (RFS) and laser Doppler (LD) techniques respectively. Total skin thickness, which may have a relationship with blood content, has been mapped at the same anatomical sites in six of the volunteers using two-dimensional array, 12 MHz ultrasound equipment. The major determinant of BC and RBV was found to be anatomical site. Regardless of age, gender or prior sun exposure, anatomical sites above the waist produced higher readings than below. BC and RBV were found to be dependent on age and gender at most sites with higher readings being observed in males and younger volunteers. The largest difference was seen in males under 55 years whose RFS readings above the waist were significantly higher than in older males or females of any age. Heavy prior sun exposure and skin thickness could not be demonstrated to impact on either RFS or LD readings independently of the effects of anatomical site, gender or age. In general, RFS and LD readings paralleled one another and correlated linearly at most anatomical sites. While RFS readings tended to decrease in the cranio-caudal direction, LD readings were relatively uniform across the body except for the head and groin where they were higher, and the abdomen where they were lower. The site-to-site variations in RFS readings observed in this study correspond well to capillary density variations noted in previous studies.

Breast Edema in Patients Undergoing Breast-Conserving Treatment for Breast Cancer: Assessment via High Frequency Ultrasound

“…Data were also collected regarding patient and treatment related factors for analysis of their association with changes in both cutaneous and parenchymal edema of the breast. A more detailed description of the technique used to perform the HFUS and its ability to assess the fluid content of the epidermis and dermis as well as quantifying the thickness of the epidermis can be found elsewhere (6–8).…”

Fully automated dried blood spot sample preparation enables the detection of lower molecular mass peptide and non-peptide doping agents by means of LC-HRMS

“…In some cases, finger blood collection was complicated by a slow blood flow, and even a slight squeezing of the finger can provoke exudate leaking into the collected blood causing a dilution of the sample. In addition, Hct values reportedly differ between body regions [37] and variation in capillary density, cutaneous blood content and red blood cell velocity must be taken into account [38]. The influence of anticoagulant (K2EDTA) on the NIR spectra might necessitate further investigations as well, suggesting more comprehensive studies in order to enable a holistic classification of Hct values obtained from NIR spectroscopy.…”

An in-shoe laser Doppler sensor for assessing plantar blood flow in the diabetic foot

“…As there is no 'gold standard' method of determining mean blood flow in a comparable sample of cutaneous tissue, in vivo calibration of a laser Doppler system is not generally feasible. One study (Simonen et al 1997) has provided data on the normal variation in cutaneous RBC concentrations and RBC velocities, however this was based on a relatively small (n=28) group of unmatched normal subjects. Changes in the rheology of blood in diabetes mellitus can occur which affect plasma viscosity (MacRury 1990) and nonenzymatic glycosylation can affect the deformability of the RBC membrane (Watala 1992).…”