Assessment of endothelial function in complex regional pair syndrome type I using iontophoresis and laser Doppler imaging: Reply

R. Gorodkin1, T. Moore1 and A. Herrick1,2

1 University of Manchester Rheumatic Diseases Centre, Hope Hospital, Salford and 2 arc Epidemiology Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

Correspondence to: R. Gorodkin, Rheumatic Diseases Centre, Hope Hospital, Stott Lane, Salford M6 8HD, UK. E-mail: rachel.gorodkin{at}man.ac.uk

We thank Dr Shenker and colleagues for their comments, which highlight (i) the importance of studying control subjects as well as contralateral limbs in studies investigating the pathophysiology of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I, and (ii) the advantages of laser Doppler imaging over single-probe laser Doppler.

We were disappointed by the calibration problems during our study, and we agree that calibration scans should be taken prior to each use of the laser Doppler imager. This is now our current practice. However, as stated in our paper [1], we believe that the similarities in patients and controls in the area under the curve (AUC) and maximum flux responses (albeit in percentage terms) make it unlikely that there are significant impairments in endothelial-dependent and -independent vasodilation in patients with CRPS. However, patient numbers were small for such a heterogeneous condition, and microcirculatory responses in patients with CRPS deserve further study.

The authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

References

  1. Gorodkin, R, Moore, T, Herrick, AL. Assessment of endothelial function in complex regional pain syndrome type I using iontophoresis and laser Doppler imaging. Rheumatology 2004;43:727–30.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Accepted 15 October 2004





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