Patterns of Diffusion through Skin Capillaries in Patients with Long-Term Diabetes

Abstract

We used intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy to study the pattern of transcapillary and interstitial diffusion in the nail folds of 13 patients with long-term diabetes and of 12 healthy controls. In both groups intravenously injected sodium fluorescein left the intravascular compartment. Its distribution in the pericapillary space and in the remote parts of the interstitial space was measured on single frames of the television tape by videodensitometers that are sensitive to intensities of fluorescent light.