Effect of exposure to heat and intake of ethanol on the skin circulation and temperature in ischaemic limbs.

The question of whether alcohol intake increases skin circulation is controversial. The study described here was undertaken to examine the effect on skin circulation and skin temperature in ischaemic limbs of exposure to external heat, and of alcohol intake together with such exposure. Fourteen patients with occlusive arterial disease, mean age of 65 years (range 47-80), underwent measurements of blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and of skin temperature 1-2 days before and 8-10 days after vascular reconstruction. LDF and skin temperature were measured in the plantar region of the mid-forefoot with the subject supine. After 30 min of exposure to external heat, the measurements were repeated. Each subject then drank 15 ml of 50% alcohol and after a further 30 min of heat exposure the same measurements were performed again. Similarly, fourteen healthy subjects, mean age 33 years (range 21-43), were studied. In the patients there was no increase in skin blood flow or skin temperature after heat exposure alone or after combined heat exposure and alcohol intake, either before or after vascular reconstruction. In the healthy subjects LDF showed a 126% increase (P < 0.01) in skin blood flow after 30 min of exposure to external heat and a further increase by 81% after alcohol intake and an additional 30 min of heat exposure (P < 0.01). The corresponding increases in skin temperature were 3.0 degrees C (P < 0.05) and 2.9 degrees C (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)