Reactive hyperemia test: methods of analysis, mechanisms of reaction and prospects

The analysis and generalization of the results of the works devoted to the study of the reaction to the post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) test have been carried out with the aim of forming the model of reaction and determining the growth of new scientific directions, not only in diagnostics, but also in therapy. The mechanisms of reaction, protocol, methods of instrumental assessment of the reaction to PORH test, the role of the test in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are discussed. The reaction to multiple occlusion is analyzed, which is potentially useful as a therapeutic procedure for improving microcirculation. Usefulness is compared between the methods of laser Doppler flowmetry, photoplethysmography, infrared thermography and peripheral arterial tonometry. In the short term, the most intensive development and wide application is predicted for the photoplethysmography.