CUTANEOUS OXYGEN TENSION MEASUREMENTS IN PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS PERIPHERAL CIRCULATORY DISTURBANCES OF THE SKIN

Cutaneous oxygen tension (cutaneous pO₂) was measured in 59 healthy controls and 58 patients with peripheral circulatory disturbances including 18 with progressive systemic sclerosis, 5 with stasis dermatitis with ulcer, 22 with arteriosclerosis obliterans, and 13 with thromboangiitis obliterans. In the control group, the mean value ± SD of cutaneous pO₂ was 82 ± 10 mmHg on the forearm, 79 ± 10 mmHg on the subclavicular region, 81 + 11 mmHg on the leg, 75 ± 11 mmHg on the dorsum of the hand and 70 ± 9 mmHg on the dorsum of the foot. There was an inverse correlation between cutaneous pO₂ values on the forearm and increase in age, and a significant correlation between cutaneous pO₂ values on the forearm and femoral arterial oxygen tension (PaO₂). In all of the patient groups, cutaneous pO₂ measured at affected sites was significantly lower than in the control group. These cutaneous pO₂ values reflect the amount of O₂ available for diffusion to the skin surface; thus cutaneous pO₂ measurement is useful as a quantitative evaluation of cutaneous circulation.