What information can digital plethysmography provide in acrosyndromes?
Chauveau, M.
Phlebologie 40(2): 431-440
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-8280 PMID: 3615619 Document Number: 293836
Digital plethysmography records digital pulsation and measures blood flow by occlusion and perfusion pressure. The pulsatile curve is modified in vasomotor disorders of the extremities, and is delayed and flattened in obstructive arteriopathy. In Raynaud's phenomenon, the basal flow (at 22 degrees C) decreases with clinical severity, and suppression of post-ischemic blood flow by cold seems to be an attribute of Raynaud's disease. Digital perfusion pressure is usually greater than or equal to 70% of the humeral systolic pressure. When it decreases under hot conditions, organic obstructive arteriopathy is indicated; decreases due to local cooling allow quantification of hyperreactivity to cold of the digital artery.