Via practica 9/2005

PHARMACOTHERAPY OF THE CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFICIENCY

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a widespread disease that involves either the superficial venous system or both the deep and superficial systems. Characteristics of CVI include signs (e.g. varicose veins, oedema, skin changes, ulcus cruris) and/or symptoms (e.g. heaviness or tiredness in legs, aching, sensation of heat, burning or tingling, nocturnal cramps) related to venous stasis resulting from venous hypertension. In patients with CVI conservative treatment (life-style modification, compression treatment, drugs) as well as radical treatment (sclerotherapy, surgical treatment) is used. In recent guidelines on the treatment of CVI the use of venoactive agents is indicated to treat oedema and the subjective symptoms of CVI in any stage of the disease. In more advanced stages of CVI, venoactive drugs are used in conjunction with sclerotherapy, surgery and compression therapy, or as an alternative treatment when surgery is not indicated or is unfeasible or when patients are unable to use compression therapy (elastic stockings or compression bandages).

Keywords: chronic venous insufficiency, treatment, venoactive drugs.