Varicose Veins: A Local or Systemic Hemodynamic Disorder?

Abstract

Objective: To determine the capabilities of a sonographic examination to evaluate local and systemic hemodynamic disorders in patients with varicose disease. Materials and Methods: This study included 583 patients with varicose veins, among whom 348 had trophic disorders. All subjects underwent lower limb duplex sonography and superficial, perforator, and deep venous diameter measurements, as well as had a calculated velocity for antegrade and reflux flow. Peripheral resistive index (RI) in the arteries, accompanying perforator veins (PVs), was analyzed. In addition, echocardiography was performed on 46 of the participants. Results: A statistically significant difference in the diameter of the great saphenous vein was obtained between class C2 and C4 varicose veins ( P < .05). Similar findings were obtained for the diameter of the PVs and the velocity reflux flow through PVs. Arteries in the perforator bundles demonstrated low RI, which may be attributed to the presence of arteriovenous shunts. Varicose veins were associated with an increased incidence of nonrestrictive type of blood flow through the tricuspid valve. Conclusions: Sonography demonstrated that additional factors rather than hemodynamics may be attributable to the development of venous ulcers. The most informative parameters of cardiac function, in a patient with varicose veins, are the indicators of diastolic function in both ventricles.