title: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Effect of a High-Potency Topical Corticosteroid After Sclerotherapy for Reticular and Telangiectatic Veins of the Lower Extremities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although typically mild, transient, and expected, most adverse events (AEs) postsclerotherapy are inflammatory in nature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of a high-potency topical corticosteroid (TC) applied immediately postsclerotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects undergoing bilateral lower extremity sclerotherapy with polidocanol had extremities randomized to a single application of betamethasone dipropionate and placebo saline solutions immediately post-treatment in a double-blind manner. Adverse events were assessed for each extremity by subjects at t = 0 (preapplication) and t = 15 (15 minutes postapplication) and by an investigator at t = 0 and t = 15, and at Days 14 and 60. Subjects and investigator evaluated efficacy with a quartile improvement scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen female subjects completed the study. Subjects reported no statistically significant differences in AEs between TC and placebo at either t = 0 or t = 15. Investigator scores for erythema and swelling/urtication were not significantly different between groups at the same time points. Although most subjects demonstrated 26% to 75% improvement at Day 60, results were not significantly different between extremities on subject and investigator evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-potency TC application immediately postsclerotherapy produced no statistically significant differences in subject- and investigator-assessed AEs and clearance rates compared with placebo. Foam sclerotherapy with polidocanol is safe and effective for the treatment of lower extremity reticular veins.
authors.affiliation: *Westlake Dermatology Clinical Research Center, Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, Austin, Texas; †Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, San Diego, California; ‡Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California; §Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Friedmann
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Liolios
authors.forename: Douglas C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Mitchel P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Sasima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eimpunth
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C011175:betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate; D001623:Betamethasone