Are Inflammatory Biomarkers Increased in Varicose Vein Blood?
OBJECTIVE
To test for the presence of inflammatory biomarkers in blood taken from varicose veins versus antecubital blood of the same patient and compare this to levels in healthy controls.


METHODS
Using a multiplex biochip array method (Randox, United Kingdom), the interleukins (ILs) IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10; vascular endothelial growth factor; interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor α ; monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1); and epidermal growth factor were measured in citrated plasma samples drawn from the arms and legs of 24 patients with varicose veins and 24 controls.


RESULTS
Expressed as median (interquartile range) in pg/mL, leg samples from patients with varicose veins had significantly higher levels of IL-8 and MCP-1 compared to their own arm samples (IL-8: local 2.3 [1.71-3.3] vs systemic 2.3 [1.62-2.98], P = .023; MCP-1: local 114.42 [84.29-139.05] vs systemic 103.56 [79.75-126.42], P < .0005). This was not observed in the control group. Leg samples from both patients with varicose vein and controls had higher levels of IL-6 compared to their own arm samples (patients: local 1.67 [0.82-4.48] vs systemic 1.24 [0.58-3.26], P = .002; controls: local 1.23 [0.83-1.7] vs systemic 1.03 [1.7-1.52], P = .005). No significant differences were detected with the other biomarkers.


CONCLUSIONS
Blood drawn from the site of varicose veins appears to have significantly increased concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 when compared to the same patient's arm blood. This supports the hypothesis that inflammation is activated from the tissues drained by the varicose veins.
Faculty of Medicine, Josef Pflug Vascular Laboratory, Ealing Hospital and Imperial College, Southall, Middlesex, United Kingdom c.lattimer09@imperial.ac.uk.
Christopher R
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0282-4826
CR
Lattimer
Faculty of Medicine, Josef Pflug Vascular Laboratory, Ealing Hospital and Imperial College, Southall, Middlesex, United Kingdom Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Laboratories, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA.
Evi
E
Kalodiki
Faculty of Medicine, Josef Pflug Vascular Laboratory, Ealing Hospital and Imperial College, Southall, Middlesex, United Kingdom.
George
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0310-2726
G
Geroulakos
Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Laboratories, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA.
Debra
D
Hoppensteadt
Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Laboratories, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA.
Jawed
J
Fareed
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000097:blood*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines
biochip array analysis; chronic venous insufficiency; inflammatory biomarkers; inflammatory cytokines; varicose veins