Laser Doppler-based measurements of periarticular blood flux can be utilized for assessment of arthritis pain: A hypothesis

Arthritis often presents with serious pain of the affected joints. The pain results mainly from underlying inflammatory processes initiated by the immune response to the degenerative structural changes within the joints and is associated with microvascular vasodilation that increases articular blood flow. Laser Doppler-based methods facilitate reliable quantification of microvascular perfusion. We hypothesize that laser Doppler-based measurements of periarticular blood flux can be utilized for assessment of arthritis pain in patients.