Reactivity of skin microcirculation as a biomarker of cardiovascular events. Pilot study.

BACKGROUND The role of microcirculatory disorders is progressively being accepted in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE The purpose of current study is to assess whether we can consider skin microcirculation disorders as a biomarker of cardiovascular events. METHODS Group 1 consisted of healthy volunteers (n = 31); group 2 (n = 42) consisted of patients with diseases that increase the risk of cardiovascular events; group 3 (n = 39) included patients with the history of cardiovascular events. Skin microcirculation measurement was performed using laser Doppler flowmetry during the heating test. RESULTS LDF parameters reflecting the rapid response of microcirculation to heating ("Slope 120 s" and "Slope 180 s") significantly differed in three groups (p <  0.05). A decrease in the "Slope 180 s" parameter less than 0.5 PU/s is associated with cardiovascular events (sensitivity 69.2%, specificity 66.7%; the area under the ROC curve, 0.667; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.545-0.788, p = 0.01). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that "Slope 180 s≤0.5 PU/s" was significantly related to cardiovascular events (adjusted odds ratio = 3.9, p = 0.019, CI 95% 1.2-12). CONCLUSIONS Reduced reactivity of the skin microcirculation may be useful as a biomarker of severe damage to the cardiovascular system and is promising as a risk factor for cardiovascular events.