title: Mast cell infiltration in the wall of varicose veins.
abstract: Varicose veins of the lower extremities are abnormally dilated, tortuous and elongated. The exact cause of vein dilatation has still not been established. Mast cells produce, store and release various types of vasoactive compounds (histamine, tryptase, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and cytokines). Histamine enhances local vasopermeability and smooth muscle cell proliferation, leading to thickening of the intima. Tryptase can contribute to local vascular injury and subsequent weakness of the vascular wall causing varix formation. The aim of the present study was the comparison of mast cell infiltration in the wall of varicose and non-varicose veins. The mean mast cell density in the wall of varicose veins was 0.86 mast cell per mm2 and in healthy non-dilated vein walls, density was 1.23 mast cell per mm2. This difference was not statistically significant, therefore we could not confirm our hypothesis. Nevertheless, we suggest that mast cells could play an important role in the development of varices and the factor released by the mast cells should be further examined.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. haviarova@fmed.uniba.sk
authors.forename: Zora
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Haviarová
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weismann
authors.forename: Danica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pavlíková
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Durdík
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kovác
authors.forename: Viera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stvrtinová
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mráz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D014048:Tolonium Chloride