title: Effect of silver-threads-containing compression stockings on the cutaneous microcirculation: a double-blind, randomized cross-over study.
abstract: Recently silver fiber-containing compression stockings for the use in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) were introduced to the market. In order to gain some first insight into the effects of these new fabrics on the cutaneous microcirculation, a double-blind, randomized cross-over trial was performed in 10 healthy volunteers. A 3 days run-in phase preceded the (2 x10 days) treatment phases and was used to assess the reproducibility of the primary endpoint, which was the transcutaneous partial oxygen pressure (tcpO(2)) measured at a probe temperature of 44 degrees C in the perimalleolar region of the reference leg in supine and dependent leg positions. Coefficients of variation for double measured tcpO(2) values were 4.2% (3.1 SD) and 5.8% (6.0 SD) for the leg in supine and dependent position. The intra-individual comparison of the effects from both treatment phases (value end of treatment - start of treatment) resulted in a negative tcpO(2) net balance for the regular hosiery (-0.93 (2.7 SD) mmHg, supine; -1.1 (3.5 SD) mmHg, dependent) but a positive net balance for the silver fibers containing stockings (0.25 (4.0 SD) mmHg, supine; 1.7 (3.9 SD) mmHg, dependent). The inter-treatment differences were statistically significant for the leg in a dependent position. The trial provides first evidence that interweaving silver threads into regular compression stockings may result in a positive effect regarding the nutritive skin perfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jaccard
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Degischer
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imfeld
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aschwanden
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thalhammer
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Labs
authors.forename: Kurt A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jäger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011187:Posture; D011312:Pressure; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012834:Silver; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D012881:Skin Temperature; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D016683:Supine Position; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D012834:Silver; D010100:Oxygen