title: Advantages and disadvantages of graduated and inverse graduated compression hosiery in patients with chronic venous insufficiency and healthy volunteers: A prospective, mono-centric, blinded, open randomised, controlled and cross-over trial.
abstract: Background The therapeutic effectiveness of compression therapy depends on the selection of compression hosiery. Objectives To assess efficacy and tolerability of graduated elastic compression stockings (GECS) and inverse graduated elastic compression stockings (PECS). Methods Thirty-two healthy volunteers and thirty-two patients with chronic venous insufficiency were analysed; wear period: one week for each stocking type (randomised, blinded).
  
  
  METHODS
  volume reduction of 'Lower leg' (Image3D®) and 'Distal leg and foot' (water plethysmography).
  
  
  RESULTS
  clinical symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency assessed by the Venous Clinical Severity Score, side effects and wear comfort in both groups. Results Volume of 'Lower leg': significant reduction in healthy volunteers (mean GECS: -37.5 mL, mean PECS: -37.2 mL) and in patients (mean GECS: -55.6 mL, mean PECS: -41.6 mL). Volume of 'Distal lower leg and foot': significant reduction in healthy volunteers (mean GECS: -27 mL, mean PECS: -16.7 mL), significant reduction in patients by GECS (mean: -43.4 mL), but non-significant reduction by PECS (mean: -22.6 mL). Clinical symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency were improved significantly better with GECS than with PECS, p < 0.001. GECS led to more painful constrictions, p = 0.047, PECS slipped down more often, p < 0.001. Conclusion GECS and PECS reduce volume of the segment 'Lower leg' in patients and healthy volunteers. Patients' volume of the 'Distal lower leg and foot', however, were diminished significantly only by GECS ( p = 0.0001). Patients' complaints were improved by both GECS and PECS, and GECS were superior to PECS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Riebe
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Konschake
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jünger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010991:Plethysmography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D053828:Stockings, Compression / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chronic venous insufficiency; graduated elastic compression stockings; inverse graduated elastic compression stockings; quality of life; volume reduction