Identification of venular capillary remodelling: a possible link to the development of periodontitis?

Purpose The present study measured changes in arteriolar and venular capillary flow and structure in the gingival tissues during the development of plaque-induced gingival inflammation by combining dynamic optical coherence tomography (OCT), laser perfusion, and capillaroscopic video imaging. Methods Gingival inflammation was induced in 21 healthy volunteers over a 3-week period. Gingival blood flow and capillary morphology were measured by dynamic OCT, laser perfusion imaging, and capillaroscopy, including a baseline assessment of capillary glycocalyx thickness. Venular capillary flow was estimated by analysis of the perfusion images and mean blood velocity/acceleration in the capillaroscopic images. Readings were recorded at baseline ...