Skin epidermal thickness and vascular density in Type 1 diabetes

Epidermal skin thickness and vascular density were assessed in skin biopsies obtained from the dorsum of the foot in 28 type 1 diabetic patients and 17 normal control subjects, matched for age. Epidermal skin thickness did not differ significantly between control subjects (74 ± 4 (± SE) μm) and diabetic patients (78 ± 4 μm). It was not related to the duration of diabetes and presence of complications. Neither wall (capillary) nor large (arteriole/venule) vessel densities differed significantly between control subjects (59 ± 6 mm-2 and 19 ± 2 mm-2) and diabetic patients (65 ± 4 mm-2 and 22 ± 3 mm-2). Vessel densities were unrelated to the duration of diabetes and presence of complications.