Changes on venous diameter and leg perimeter with different clinical treatments for moderate chronic venous disease: evaluation using Duplex scanning and perimeter measurements

Aim. To evaluate changes on venous diameter and perimeter of lower limbs in chronic venous disorder (CVD) patients after different clinical treatments for four weeks. Methods. Fifty-two female patients classified as C2,s or C2,3,s (CEAP classification) were allocated consecutively in three groups: Cirkan (R) (40 mg of the root extract of Ruscus aculeatus + 100 mg of flavonoid hesperidine methylchalcone + 200 mg of vitamin C per pill); elastic compression stockings (ECS) and no treatment (NT). Diameters were determined by duplex ultrasound and perimeter with Leg-0-Meter. Results. After treatment, Cirkan (R) significantly decreased popliteal vein and great saphenous vein (GSV) diameters bilaterally and ECS decreased popliteal vein diameter bilaterally and GSV and varices only on the left limb. Perimeters changed only with ECS. Clinical scores changed between Cirkan (R) x NT and ECS x Cirkan (R). Disability score varied for ECS x NT and Cirkan (R) x NT. chi(2) test detected different distribution frequency for C3 and C2 classes according to treatment: ECS (both limbs) and Cirkan (R) (only left limb). Varices and anatomical scores did not change. Conclusion. ECS emerges as the most effective clinical treatment tested but improvements with Cirkan (R) on vein diameter and CEAP class were also observed. Clinical scores improved due to pain relief and edema reduction (ECS). These findings point to a positive effect of Cirkan (R), suggesting that venotonic drugs should be taken into account in the treatment of CVD. [Int Angiol 2009;28:222-31]