Evgeni Stanev

By Evgeni Stanev and Maria Dencheva

Calorimetry is an indisputable diagnostic method. Over the years, there has been an improvement in the equipment and methods for measuring the calor that accompanies various processes. Using a thermal camera, we can measure the surface temperature of the skin at the beginning and the end of each skin allergy test. They are epicutaneous, cutaneous, and percutaneous. In case of a positive reaction, allergic inflammation is observed with the obligatory symptoms, one of which is warming (calor). Measuring and visualizing this warming is essential in the diagnosis of allergic reaction. The methodology of imaging the skin areas and processing the results is the key point in the objectivity of the study. Diagnostic skin allergy tests report mainly immunopathological reactions of the first and fourth types (Coombs and Gel classification). Their course is different and this necessitated the development of various thermovisiographic imaging methods. Through the results of our thermal imaging studies, we derived a scale, that determines the intensity of the allergic reaction, for each of the skin allergy tests. The use of thermovisiography in addition to the standard reporting of allergic skin reactions provides precision and more information about the subtle temperature changes that accompany allergic reactions.

Part of the book: Applications of Calorimetry