title: Restoring microvascular efficiency with mesoglycan in women affected by moderate chronic venous disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic venous disorders (CVDs) subtend a spectrum of vascular abnormalities, including microcirculation and skin damages (as ulcers) in the lower limb. Mesoglycan has been established as an effective agent to improve microcirculation associated with CVDs. The aim of this study was to determine the beneficial function of mesoglycan on cutaneous blood flow measured by laser Doppler fluometry (LDF) before and after iontophoresis analysis using methacholine chloride (MCh) injection in a group of female patients in different stages of CVDs, according to the CEAP classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female patients with chronic venous disorders (CVD) were referred from primary care practices and vascular clinics. The study selected 75 women aged 45.5 ± 9.6 years (range, 30 to 60 years). And grading in CEAP classification. Eligible patients were allocated consecutively, according to entrance order, in an active treatment group and in a control group for 90 days. The active group (N. = 37) received mesoglycan 50 mg twice daily in adjunct to standard care. The primary outcome variable for the study was the measurement of skin microcirculation blood flow by LDF. Data obtained was transferred to a database (Excel) and analysed using statistical software (SPSS version 12, SPSS, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 90 days of treatment, mesoglycan obtained a significative increase in peak flow at LDF of about 13% respect of baseline and standard care in the entire group of CVD treated women. In upper CEAP classes there was a trend for a more intense vasodilating activity of mesoglycan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study shows improving in microvascular function induced by a 3-month mesoglycan treatment in patients classified by CEAP stages C1 and C4.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Dipartimentale di Angiolologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Specialistica Dei Colli,Naples, Italy - giuseppe.leonardo@ospedalideicolli.it.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maresca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foggia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leonardo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007478:Iontophoresis; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; C040617:mesoglycan