LOW INTENSITY LASER IRRADIATION IMPROVES SKIN CIRCULATION IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC MICROANGIOPATHY

Andreas Schindl, M.D¹; Martin Schindl, M.D²; Heidemarie Schön³, M.D; Robert Knobler¹, M.D; Liselotte Havelec, PhD⁴; Liesbeth Schindl, M.D.²

¹ Department of Dermatology, Div. of Special and Environmental Dermatology, University of Vienna Medical School, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

² Institute for Lasermedicine, Rathausplatz 4, A-3400 Klosterneuburg/Vienna, Austria

³ Department of Dermatology, Div. of Immunology, Allergy, and Infectious Diseases, University of Vienna Medical School, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

⁴ Department of Medical Statistics, University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

Introduction

Diabetic foot problems due to microangiopathy account for 50% of all nontraumatic amputations and constitute a significant economic burden to society. Low intensity laser irradiation has been shown to induce wound healing in conditions of reduced microcirculation. We investigated the influence of low intensity laser irradiation by means of infrared thermography on skin blood flow in diabetic patients with diabetic microangiopathy.