Research paperThe skin microcirculatory changes in the normal and hypertensive elderly

IntroductionThe skin microcirculatory changes mimic the changes in other vascular beds, including the cardiac. Several studies aimed to study the functional and structural changes in the skin microcirculation of the elderly population. Controversies rose from whether the encountered changes were due to ageing or due to associated diseases. We, therefore, aimed at studying the skin microcirculation in a group of elderly subjects away from disease states that are known to affect the microcirculatory status. We also studied a group of elderly hypertensive patients for comparison. Both groups were compared to young healthy adults.MethodsThe study population included 145 subjects, divided into three groups: group A: 50 healthy elderly subjects free from diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, group B: 60 elderly patients with long standing essential hypertension and group C: 35 young healthy subjects. The microcirculation was assessed by means of the Laser Doppler Fluxmetry (LDF). The provocative test used was the reactive hyperemia test (RH). Further evaluation of the apparent structural abnormalities in skin microvascular structure was done using the capillaroscope.ResultsResults showed no statistically significant difference in the RH measurements between the normal elderly group and the control group with a statistically significant difference in the capillary density by capillaroscopy. The hypertensive group revealed different results.ConclusionThe study of the microcirculatory changes in normal elderly subjects revealed the presence of structural abnormalities. These changes are independent of any disease state.