title: Outcomes and side effects of duplex-guided sclerotherapy in the treatment of great saphenous veins with 1% versus 3% polidocanol foam: results of a randomized controlled trial with 1-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eighty subjects were treated with either 1 or 3% polidocanol foam to compare the efficacy and adverse sequelae of each concentration of polidocanol foam.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to compare the effects of two different concentrations of polidocanol foam.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 6-month period, we treated 80 consecutive patients with primary incompetent great saphenous veins in combination with saphenofemoral junction incompetence. These patients were treated with foam of either 1 or 3% polidocanol. Duplex analyses were made before treatment and in follow-up visits to determine the presence or absence of reflux.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 1 year, there was a clinically relevant difference in percentage of patients with occlusion of the treated great saphenous vein between both groups: 69.5% in the 1% foam group versus 80.1% in the 3% foam group; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p=.249). After 1 year of follow-up, patients in the 3% polidocanol group noticed a larger cosmetic improvement than patients in the 1% group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the treatment of primary incompetent greater saphenous veins, 3% polidocanol foam seems to be more effective than 1% polidocanol foam. The side effects were approximately similar in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. rce@sder.azm.nl
authors.forename: Roeland P M
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ceulen
authors.forename: Yolande I J M
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Bullens-Goessens
authors.forename: Sebastien J A
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pi-VAN DE Venne
authors.forename: Patty J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Nelemans
authors.forename: Joep C J M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Veraart
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols