gms | German Medical Science

Background: The pathophysiology of venous symptoms in chronic venous insufficiency is still unclear. We tried to investigate a potential correlation between the inflammatory markers and VEGF in the wall of the greater saphenous vein and chronic venous insufficiency symptoms.

Methods: 40 great saphenous veins specimens were surgically obtained: 35 specimens were from patients with advanced varicose veins and 5 specimens were from pateints with no chronic venous insufficiency. IL-6 concentrations as well as IL-17, TNFα and VEGF concentrations were measured using a sandwich ELISA technique. Substance P was evaluated by a competition ELISA. mRNA VEGF and mRNA TNFα were evaluated by RT-PCR.

Results: IL-17 and substance P were not detected. IL-6 concentrations were comparable among symtomatic and asymptomatic patients. There was a significant statistical difference between TNFα concentrations in the normal veins wall and in varicose veins wall (p≤0.01). However, there was no statistical significant difference when the expression of TNFα mRNA was compared between normal veins and varicose veins and between symptomatic patients and asymptomatic patients. A significant statistical difference was found for the VEGF concentrations and VEGF gene expression between normal veins and varicose veins. Further, VEGF concentrations were statistically different among patients having pain facing their varicosities and patients not reporting pain (p≤0.05). This significant difference was not found when other symptoms were compared.

Conclusion: Further studies are needed before a correlation can be made between inflammatory markers and VEGF and venous symptoms.