Skin Epidermal Thickness and Vascular Density in Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Epidermal skin thickness and vascular density were assessed in skin biopsies obtained from the dorsum of the foot in 28 Type 1 diabetic patients and 17 normal control subjects, matched for age. Epidermal skin thickness did not differ significantly between control subjects (74 ± 4 (± SE) μ m) and diabetic patients (78 ± 4 μm). It was not related to the duration of diabetes and presence of complications. Neither small (capillary) nor large (arteriole/venule) vessel densities differed significantly between control subjects (59 ± 6 mm⁻² and 19 ± 2 mm⁻²) and diabetic patients (65 ± 4 mm⁻² and 22 ± 3 mm⁻²). Vessel densities were unrelated to the duration of diabetes and presence of complications.