Importance of image processing in digital optical capillaroscopy for early diagnostics of arterial hypertension

Development of computer technologies and image processing techniques provides rapid improvement of imaging quality in digital capillaroscopy enabling much better observation and identification of tiny capillaries, measurement of blood flow and determination of capillary parameters. The main idea of the study was to determine the applicability of digital optical capillaroscopy for the diagnostics of early stages of arterial hypertension. Diameters of the arterial and venous segments, perivascular zone size, capillary blood velocity, the degree of arterial loops narrowing and the density of the capillary network were estimated using original software. Image processing consisted of several stages including image stabilization, capillary contouring and determining the capillary blood flow velocities. In patients with arterial hypertension and even in patients with prehypertension, remodeling and rarefaction of capillaries and the expressed narrowing of their arterial loops were manifested. The application of adequate image processing in digital optical capillaroscopy offers an efficient tool for early diagnostics of arterial hypertension.