2.8. Endothelial Function
brachial artery occlusion, Skin microvascular blood flow
BRACHIAL ARTERY OCCLUSION, REACTIVE HYPEREMIA
All measurements were undertaken in a temperature-controlled room (22 ± 3 °C). Skin microvascular blood flow (SBF) was measured using a laser Doppler perfusion monitoring apparatus (PeriFlux 5000 System, Perimed, Stockholm, Sweden). The laser Doppler probe (PF 457, Perimed, Stockholm, Sweden), connected to a computer, was placed on the right forearm volar surface. After 10 min of acclimatisation, the blood flow was recorded for 20 min by Perisoft software. The mean skin blood perfusion was expressed as arbitrary perfusion units (PU). Next, for the measurement of post-occlusive reactive hyperemia, the brachial artery was occluded by a BP cuff placed on the right upper arm and inflated up to 50 mmHg above the SBP. The BP cuff was rapidly deflated after 3 min of brachial artery occlusion, and the peak value, expressed as PU, was determined by calculating the maximal perfusion value reached during reactive hyperemia.