title: Capillary filtration in venous hypertension: evaluation with the vacuum suction chamber device and strain-gauge plethysmography.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate local capillary filtration with the vacuum suction chamber (VSC) and the rate of ankle swelling (RAS) in patients with ankle edema due to venous hypertension before and after treatment with oral TTFCA (60 mg tablets twice daily) for 4 weeks. Strain-gauge plethysmography (SGP) was used to assess RAS and local capillary filtration was studied with the VSC (applied on the perimalleolar region); the disappearance of the weal was measured (minutes). Fifty patients with chronic venous insufficiency and edema were included (M:F= 25:25) after informed consent and randomized into a treatment (mean age 43; SD 7) and a control (mean age 44; SD 8) group. Compliance was very good (100% completed the 4-week trial); no side effects were observed. The two groups were comparable for age/sex distribution. Values of RAS and VSC time were comparable in the two groups, at inclusion. After 4 weeks there were no changes in the control group. A significant reduction was observed in the treatment (RAS decreased to 34% of the initial value; the VSC time decreased 48%; p<0.02). Treatment with TTFCA in chronic venous insufficiency is useful as soon as edema is detected to control the progressive alterations leading to ulcerations. This action is produced by complex actions on the microcirculation reducing and controlling edema and modulating collagen synthesis. This results in an improvement of the microcirculation, skin and subcutaneous tissue perfusion and functions.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Unit, Ealing Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belcaro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rulo
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cesarone
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Incandela
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cacchio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004487:Edema / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010991:Plethysmography; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014618:Vacuum; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; C005084:TECA; D014315:Triterpenes