title: Morphology of chronic venous insufficiency--light and electron microscopic examinations.
abstract: The morphology of chronic venous insufficiency (cvi) as seen by light and by electron microscopy with additional immunohistological examinations is described. The course of events follows the well-known pattern of "injury and repair". The tissue injury is due to an increased capillary permeability induced by rise of the intravenous ambulatory pressure. This results in the formation of a pericapillary edema ("halo"). No evidence of a pericapillary fibrin deposition could be found, but fibrinogen might well be extravasated together with erythrocytes. The accumulation of cell debris and metabolites around the capillaries induces a secondary ("resorptive") inflammation with mobilisation of white blood cells and formation of a granulation tissue. Occlusion of small blood vessels is responsible for the development of micronecroses. These lesions have to be repaired by a new granulation tissue. Finally a fibrous scar tissue with impaired microcirculation results. Persistence of the venous stasis prevents a restitution of the tissue. Only by permanent elimination of the venous stasis, a restitution of the scar tissue may be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Leu
mesh_terms: D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000473:pathology*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology*