The haemodynamic causes of skin changes in limbs with primary varicose veins

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the haemodynamic causes of skin changes in limbs with primary varicose veins, which were assessed with air plethysmography. Methods: Five hundred seventeen consecutive patients with axial reflux in the great saphenous vein (varicose vein group) and 248 normal subjects (normal group) were investigated. Varicose vein group patients were divided into two groups according to whether they did (C4–6) or did not (C2–3) have skin changes. Several parameters obtained using air plethysmography were compared among the normal group, C2–3 and C4–6 patients. Results: Although there was no significant difference in the regurgitation index to quantify venous reflux in C2–3 and C4–6 patients, the maximum arterial inflow rate increased (normal group < C2–3 < C4–6), even in limbs with a small amount of venous reflux. Conclusions: This study suggests that it is not essential to increase the venous reflux rate in skin change development; rather, it is based on various pathophysiological conditions that increase the arterial inflow rate.