Evaluation of the microcirculatory effects of Venoruton in patients with chronic venous hypertension by laserdoppler flowmetry, transcutaneous PO2 and PCO2 measurements, leg volumetry and ambulatory venous pressure measurements

Abstract

The evaluation of the effects of venoactive drugs and particularly of Venoruton may be performed using microcirculatory parameters. Laserdoppler flowmetry may be used in association with PO2/PCO2 measurements. In this study we combined the microcirculatory evaluation with foot and leg volumetry to evaluate the effects of Venoruton in 15 patients with deep (popliteal vein) incompetence and venous hypertension, treated for 6 weeks. A control group of 20 patients was also evaluated. All these subjects were studied and selected according to ambulatory venous pressure measurements (AVP) and duplex scanning. Measurements were made at the internal perimalleolar region in constant temperature condition (23 degrees C). No variations of AVP or duplex scanning findings were observed after 6 weeks in both treated and untreated patients. Laserdoppler flowmetry showed a significant decrease of the resting flow (which was increased in all patients at the beginning of the study). An increased efficacy of the venoarteriolar response was also recorded together with an increased response of skin flow after increase of temperature in the perimalleolar region in patients treated with Venoruton. This was also associated with an increase of skin PO2 and with a decreased PCO2. In the control group no significant variations of these parameters were observed. Leg volume was also significantly decreased in the patients treated with Venoruton while no changes were observed in controls. In conclusion this study showed the efficacy of Venoruton in improving parameters altered in venous hypertension and the possibility of application of this microcirculatory model to study venoactive drugs used for treating venous hypertension.