Plantar Foot Microvascular Reactivity and Oxygenation in Type 2 Diabetes and Peripheral Artery Disease: An Exploratory Study.
J, G., A, M., E, C., G, C., L, B., E, S., BB, L., C, B., B, R., & J, O. (2026). Plantar Foot Microvascular Reactivity and Oxygenation in Type 2 Diabetes and Peripheral Artery Disease: An Exploratory Study.. Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994). https://doi.org/10.1111/micc.70078
J G, A M, E C, G C, L B, E S, et al. Plantar Foot Microvascular Reactivity and Oxygenation in Type 2 Diabetes and Peripheral Artery Disease: An Exploratory Study.. Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994). 2026; doi: 10.1111/micc.70078
J G, A M, E C, et al. Plantar Foot Microvascular Reactivity and Oxygenation in Type 2 Diabetes and Peripheral Artery Disease: An Exploratory Study.[J]. Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994). 2026. DOI: 10.1111/micc.70078.
@article{j2026,
author = {Gallo J and Miller A and Chan E and Chen G and Benner L and Sillaste E and Lopez BB and Bakx C and Ro B and Orsi J},
title = {Plantar Foot Microvascular Reactivity and Oxygenation in Type 2 Diabetes and Peripheral Artery Disease: An Exploratory Study.},
journal = {Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994)},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1111/micc.70078},
note = {PMID: 42522776},
}
TY - JOUR AU - Gallo J AU - Miller A AU - Chan E AU - Chen G AU - Benner L AU - Sillaste E AU - Lopez BB AU - Bakx C AU - Ro B AU - Orsi J TI - Plantar Foot Microvascular Reactivity and Oxygenation in Type 2 Diabetes and Peripheral Artery Disease: An Exploratory Study. T2 - Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994) PY - 2026 DO - 10.1111/micc.70078 AN - PMID:42522776 ER -
OBJECTIVE: Microvascular dysfunction contributes to foot complications in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and peripheral artery disease (PAD), yet has been characterized primarily in non-plantar regions. We evaluated microvascular reactivity and oxygenation at ulcer-prone plantar sites and responses to combined heat therapy and intermittent pneumatic compression (HT + IPC). METHODS: Forty adults ≥ 50 years (Control n = 20, T2D n = 11, PAD with or without T2D n = 9) were studied. Plantar hallux CVC (laser Doppler flux/MAP) and forefoot StO2 (near-infrared spectroscopy) were measured during local heating and reactive hyperemia. Responses to 60-min HT + IPC were evaluated using the contralateral foot as a control. RESULTS: At the plantar hallux, the increase in %CVCmax from baseline to the initial peak was attenuated in PAD compared with controls and T2D (p < 0.01), whereas plateau responses were similar. At the forefoot, PAD showed faster deoxygenation during ischemia and slower reoxygenation during reactive hyperemia (p < 0.01). During HT + IPC, popliteal blood flow increased similarly across groups; however, plantar StO2 increased in controls and T2D but remained below baseline in PAD (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings indicate impaired plantar microvascular function in a heterogeneous PAD cohort, most of whom also had T2D. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.