Skin microvascular reactivity in fingers of diabetic patients after combined kidney and pancreas transplantation.

Nine patients with severe late diabetic complications were investigated 2 and 38 months after successful combined kidney and pancreas transplantation. Nine healthy subjects served as controls. Blood cell velocity in single capillaries was evaluated by videophotometric capillaroscopy, and total skin microcirculation of the same area by laser Doppler fluxmetry. The measurements were performed during rest, and post-occlusive (1 min) reactive hyperaemia. Laser Doppler flux was also recorded during venous occlusion. The basal capillary blood cell velocity and laser Doppler flux values increased significantly (p less than 0.05) during the observation period. The time to maximal capillary blood cell velocity during hyperaemia was prolonged 2 months after combined kidney and pancreas transplantation (p less than 0.05), and still more so at 38 months (p less than 0.05). The ability to decrease blood flow during venous occlusion was impaired at 2 months, and was not significantly better at reinvestigation. The results indicate a succesive increase of basal blood flow in the skin microcirculation after successful combined kidney and pancreas transplantation, but no improvement of the impaired microvascular reactivity.