title: Levels of the inhibitor of PMN-elastase in venous blood reflowing from chronically affected veins: the role of venous stasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention has recently been paid to the cell and biochemical disorders involved in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and to their possible relationship to the endothelium.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, carried out in 14 patients with CVI, we evaluated the levels of the inhibitor of elastase (I-EL) generated by polymorphonucleate cells in the blood reflowing from affected superficial veins of legs both at rest and after prolonged venous stasis (1 hour in standing position).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated the I-EL both as percentage of activity (baseline 82.3+/-24.5%; after stasis 100.7+/-37.8%) and as absolute values (0.67+/-0.26 U/ml; after stasis 0.79+/-0.39 U/ml). In blood samples taken after venous stasis we found a tendency toward a trapping of white blood cells and an increase of the haematocrit over baseline. The difference in the percentages of activity of I-EL was statistically significant, but only a trend was observed for the absolute values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that the typical haemodynamic disorders of patient with CVI increased by prolonged venous stasis can modify the function of white blood cells, which are closely linked with venous hypertension, thus playing an important role in the pathogenesis of skin ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine A. Francaviglia, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Signorelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arpaia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cimminiello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borsetto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzullo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonfardeci
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Andreozzi
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019272:Leukocyte Elastase