Microcirculation and hemorheology in cerebrovascular accidents and hypertension: an application of laser Doppler flowmetry

The aim of this study was to analyze the peripheral microvasculature status noninvasively in high risk i.e. hypertensive controls, normal controls and recent stroke cases having a history of hypertension, using a combination of laser Doppler flowmetry and reactive hyperemia (RH). A second aim was to evaluate significant blood viscosity factors which may be involved in altered microcirculation in high risk and recent stroke cases not more than 24 hours old. Blood viscosity factors were routinely evaluated in the authors´ laboratory. RH was induced by arterial occlusion of 3.5 min. duration in the forearm of all the 3 groups. Microcirculatory parameters observed from the RH test are presented and discussed in the light of the hemorheological parameters obtained