Ultrastructural demonstration of mast cells in varicose veins of lower limbs: presence of mast cell-mediated mechanism.
OBJECTIVE
Mast cells are suggested to play an essential role during development of varices in the lower limbs.


METHODS
Investigation of the ultrastructure of mast cells in varicose lesions.


METHODS
Saga Medical School, Yamamoto Surgical Hospital.


METHODS
Eighteen varicose veins of 17 patients and 9 normal saphenous veins of 9 patients were examined. Patients who had undergone sclerotherapy for varices were excluded.


METHODS
Radical stripping surgery was performed on all varicose veins.


METHODS
Ultrastructural observations.


RESULTS
In normal saphenous veins, mast cells usually singly embedded in dense collagen bundles as resident cells. They have characteristic crystalline granules of storage type. In varicose veins, mast cells show different features such as an increase of altered granules of discharging type, degranulation and intimate relationship with fibroblasts and lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
The observations suggest the presence of mast cell-mediated mechanism by releasing some mediators in the development of varices.
Yamada
T
T
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Saga Medical School, Japan.
Yamamoto
H
H
Ogawa
A
A
Miyazaki
K
K
Tokunaga
O
O
Itoh
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000473:pathology*