Clinical application of laser Doppler flowmetry in neurology

SummaryLaser Doppler flowmetry is a contemporary method for microcirculatory investigation used in different medical fields including neurology.AimTo present principles and clinical application of laser-Doppler method in neurology and related pathologies.MethodsThe diagnostic value was studied by evaluating systematic literature and personal experience. It is based on Doppler principle and uses a laser-generated monochromatic light beam, a fiber-optic probe and sensitive photodetectors. The tissue perfusion of a sample volume is calculated by multiplying the number of moving blood cells and their velocity and is presented in perfusion units.ResultsA high diagnostic value was established in studying microcirculation and its autoregulation using a battery of functional tests for evaluation of vasomotor response mediated by sympathetic neural, axon-reflex, receptor or endothelial mechanisms. It has clinical significance in assessment of Raynaud's phenomenon, distal autonomic neuropathy of the small C fibers due to diabetes mellitus, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, systemic autoimmune diseases, chronic venous insufficiency, peripheral neuropathies, for medical expertise of occupational diseases as hand-arm vibration syndrome, toxic neuropathies, etc. By iontophoretic transducer different drugs or substances might be applied locally to test an effect, physiological or pathophysiological mechanisms. Unlike the contemporary ultrasound investigations it studies the blinded sphere for neurosonology – microcirculation and its autoregulation.ConclusionsLaser Doppler flowmetry is a valuable and reliable method for diagnostics of microcirculation and perfusion, for assessment of autoregulation and effect of treatment, for experimental studies and research. In combination with ultrasound sonography it gives a thorough information for both macro- and microcirculation.