title: Clinical and capillaroscopic evaluation in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency with Ruscus aculeatus, hesperidin methylchalcone and ascorbic acid in venous insufficiency treatment of ambulatory patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical and capillaroscopic evaluation of an association of Ruscus aculeatus, hesperidin methylchalcone (HMC) and ascorbic acid in chronic venous insufficiency
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, multicenter and open clinical study. Chronic venous insufficiency patients were studied using clinical, etiological, anatomical, physiological classification (CEAP) symptom scale. Symptomatology, CEAP scale, and baseline, 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-week skin capillaroscopy were assessed. Treatment consisted of two capsules per day of Ruscus aculeatus 150 mg/HMC 150 mg/ascorbic acid 100 mg during 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 124 patients were studied, 109 female (89.28%), with a mean age of 52.5 (33-80+9.8). Initial intense reports were 79% pain, 85% heaviness, 74% cramps, 82% edema, decreasing to 20%, 12%, 8% and 14%, respectively, within two weeks, and symptomatology being absent at the end of treatment. Capillaroscopy changes at treatment completion were: 98% to 20% inter-capillary fluid decrease; 80% to 20% efferent loop thickening; 5% to 2% peri-capillary bed, and 5% to 4% mega-capillaries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe symptom decrease started from the second week until there were no symptoms at the end of treatment. It is the first time morphologic changes were observed in chronic venous insufficiency through capillaroscopy following a pharmacological intervention. Capillary-level effect was proportional to symptom decrease. Improvement was seen from the second week of treatment.
authors: Unit of Angiology and Vascular Surgery - HUMVASCULAR - Guzman City, Jalisco, Mexico. gaguiper@prodigy.net.mx
authors: G R
authors: GR
authors: Aguilar Peralta
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Arévalo Gardoqui
authors: F J
authors: FJ
authors: Llamas Macías
authors: V H
authors: VH
authors: Navarro Ceja
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Mendoza Cisneros
authors: C G
authors: CG
authors: Martínez Macías
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047188:Chalcones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006569:Hesperidin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031443:Ruscus; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D047188:Chalcones; D010936:Plant Extracts; C013343:cyclo 3; C033022:hesperidin methylchalcone; D006569:Hesperidin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid