Microcirculatory Impairment in Patients With Leprosy

Using a protocol similar to the one developed by Rossi and co-workers (Rossi et al., 2008), ACh (Acetylcholine - Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA) was delivered by 9 iontophoretic pulses of 0.1 mA for 20 s with 60 s interval between pulses using a drug delivery electrode filled with 0.1 ml of 1% ACh solution, attached to the dorsal aspect of the second left finger by a double-sided adhesive disc.

After Ach, SNP (Nipride® 10mg/ml - Biolab, São Paulo, Brazil) was delivered by 7 iontophoretic pulses of 0.2 mA for 20 s with 180 s interval between pulses using another drug delivery electrode filled with 0.1 ml of 1% SNP solution, attached to the dorsal aspect of the third left finger. In both situations, an indifferent electrode was attached on the dorsal aspect of the left hand. Endothelial-dependent and independent skin vasodilator response to each iontophoresis pulse was measured in PUs, as mean value during each interval from one pulse to the following one.