Plethysmographic confirmation of the beneficial effect of calcium dobesilate in primary varicose veins

Abstract

Sixty patients with varicose veins, in the age range 25 to 52 years, entered the trial and were divided by random allocation into 2 equal groups. The first group received calcium dobesilate orally in dosage of 750 mg daily while the second remained untreated. Out of 25 patients who completed the 3-month treatment course, clinical improvement occurred in 19 (76%). Mercury strain gauge plethysmography in those 19 patients showed a statistically significant mean fall in the venous distensibility index, in maximum venous outflow and in the capillary filtration coefficient after the course of calcium dobesilate. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the 25 patients fell from 40 mm in 1 hour (Westergren) before treatment to 10 mm at the end of the course. In 42% of the patients there was a fall in serum globulin concentration and correction of the albumin/globulin ratio and in 35% there was a slight fall in serum fibrinogen concentration. Possibly calcium dobesilate's known action in lowering blood viscosity contributes to its beneficial effect in varicose veins.