OBJECTIVE

To study the feasibility of using 3D images acquired with optical coherence tomography (OCT) for in vivo examination of morphological skin features and skin vessel state in type II diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We examined 100 patients (29 males and 71 females) with type II diabetes mellitus with clinical manifestations of trophic ulcers and diabetic foot, aged 45 to 84 years (mean age 61 years). The average duration of the DM was 15 years. The control group included 100 healthy volunteers (37 males and 63 females) aged 19 to 75 years (mean age of 33 years). We used an optical coherence tomography scanner for noninvasive examination of the internal structure of human superficial tissues OKT-1300-E (high-speed modification of 92.000 A-scans per 1 s) developed by BioMedTech LLC (Russia) (serial production at MelSyTech LLC). Images were obtained of the skin areas of the anterior surface of the middle third of the lower leg and the back of the foot of healthy volunteers. In patients with DM, areas of apparently healthy skin of the same localization were scanned.

RESULTS

OCT images of apparently healthy skin of DM patients showed OCT signs of malpighian layer thinning, which was a sign of atrophic processes in the epidermis. Edema in the foot area was observed. Virtually no hair follicles or glands were visualized. There was a decrease in the number and diameter of visualized microcirculatory vessels.

CONCLUSION

3D OCT scanning can be recommended for in vivo monitoring of the morphological state of the skin and skin vessels in DM.