Efficacy of Graduated Compression Stockings for an Additional 3 Weeks after Sclerotherapy Treatment of Reticular and Telangiectatic Leg Veins

Sclerotherapy with post-treatment graduated compression remains the criterion standard for treating lower leg telangiectatic, reticular, and varicose veins, but the optimal duration for that postsclerotherapy compression is unknown. To determine whether 3 weeks of additional graduated compression with Class I compression stockings (20-30 mmHg) improves efficacy when used immediately after 1 week of Class II (30-40 mmHg) graduated compression stockings. Twenty-nine patients with reticular or telangiectatic leg veins were treated with sclerotherapy; one leg was assigned to wear Class II compression stocking for 1 week only, and the contralateral leg was assigned an additional 3 weeks of Class I graduated compression stocking. Postsclerotherapy pigmentation and bruising was significantly less with the addition of 3 weeks of Class I graduated compression stockings. This study was supported by a grant from Sigvaris and Medi USA, who supplied the compression stockings used in this study. Dr. Goldman is a consultant and receives honoraria from Bioniche/Angiodynamics.