Impact of compression stockings on calf-vein diameters and on quality of life parameters in subjects with painful legs

Background: Calf vein diameters during compression with two different stocking brands are assessed as well as quality of life. Patients and methods: 60 subjects (53 female) with painful legs were randomized to either wearing the Venotrain micro (R) (VM) or the Venotrain ulcertec (R) (VU) compression stocking for 2 weeks. All calf - veins were assessed in cross - sectional plane by Duplexsonography native and through the compression stockings. The diameters of 2 gastrocnemius muscle veins (GV), the short saphenous vein (SSV) and the posterior tibial vein (PTV) were compared intra - individually, with and without compression. Results: Mean diameters (+/- SD) decreased significantly under compression (p <0.0001) in the standing position: in the antero-posterior (ap) plane of the GV by 6.5 (+/- 16.6) % under VU and 8.2 (+/- 16.5) % under VM, in the SSV 9.7 (+/- 15.8) % under VU and 5.7 (+/- 19.2) % under VM. No significant change (p = 0.48) was seen in the PTV. In the prone position the relative ap - diameter changes in the medial GV were significantly smaller for the VM (37.5 +/- 51.0%) compared to the VU compression stocking (52.4 +/- 51.8%) (p = 0.016). The quality of life assessment scores improved significantly for the VU and the VM - compression stocking. Venous diameters did not correlate with quality of life scores. Conclusions: Intra - individually tested the calf muscle vein diameters decrease under compression, more pronounced in the prone than in the standing position. In the ankle area the PTV does not decrease in standing subjects. Quality of life assessed increases for both compression stockings.