Therapeutic management of chronic venous insufficiency: microcirculation as a target.
Chronic venous insufficiency, in its most severe manifestations as well as in its mild form, is linked to venous valve failure, weakness of the venous wall, and leukocyte-endothelial interactions all of which lead to cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue changes. These in turn are related to venous hypertension-induced leukocyte activation, which may provide a target for pharmacotherapeutic intervention. Currently, surgical attack is focused on correction of the sources of venous hypertension, but it is felt that this provides a crude method that hopefully wil be replaced by more precise pharmacological interventions.
Bergan
J J
JJ
University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92037, USA. jbergan@ucsd.com
Schmid-Schönbein
G W
GW
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery