Studies on the effect of short-term oral dihydroergotamine and troxerutin in patients with varicose veins.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical efficacy and pharmacologic effects of dihydroergotamine and troxerutin on varicose veins.


METHODS
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel-group study was conducted in 53 patients with primary varicose veins. Patients received either a fixed combination of 3 mg dihydroergotamine and 300 mg troxerutin three times a day or placebo for 3 weeks. Symptomatic improvement was assessed by a self-assessment score, venocontracting effects on a varicose vein were quantified by the venous compliance technique (VCT), and changes in venous dysfunction were measured by digital photoplethysmography (DPPG).


RESULTS
A significant reduction (p < 0.01) of subjective symptoms was observed in both groups. Results from VCT and DPPG after the therapy with dihydroergotamine and troxerutin or placebo were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from pretreatment values. Furthermore, no significant intergroup difference was observed when the before- and after-therapy differences of values of the self-assessment scores (VCT and DPPG) were compared.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, 3 weeks of treatment with a fixed drug combination of 3 mg dihydroergotamine plus 300 mg troxerutin three times a day had no measurable effect compared with placebo on any of the evaluated end points.
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Vienna, Austria.
S
S
Schuller-Petrovic
M
M
Wolzt
K
K
Böhler
B
B
Jilma
H G
HG
Eichler
D000328:Adult; D004087:Dihydroergotamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006896:Hydroxyethylrutoside / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017156:Photoplethysmography / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D006896:Hydroxyethylrutoside; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D004087:Dihydroergotamine; C005865:troxerutin