Chronic Venous Disease (chronic + venous_disease)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Serum Iron and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Variations in Limbs Affected by Chronic Venous Disease and Venous Leg Ulcers

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 6 2005
Paolo Zamboni MD
Background. Severe chronic venous disease (CVD) is characterized by both dermal hemosiderin accumulation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) hyperactivation. The iron-driven pathway is one of the recognized mechanisms of MMP hyperactivation. Objective. To investigate the potential consequences of leg hemosiderin deposits on both iron metabolism and activation of MMPs. Methods. We contemporaneously assessed the following in the serum of the arm and ankle veins of 30 patients (C4,6) with CVD and 14 normal subjects: ferritin, transferrin, iron, percentage of transferrin iron binding capacity (%TIBC), and MMP-9. Optical microscopy examinations with Perls' staining of chronic wounds were also performed. Results. Histology consistently revealed iron deposits. Serum ferritin, iron, and %TIBC were significantly increased in the legs affected by severe CVD compared with the arm of the same subjects or the controls. In addition, iron and %TIBC were significantly elevated in the legs of ulcer patients. The rate of activation of MMP-9 was significantly elevated in CVD. Conclusions. The increased iron deposition in legs affected by CVD seems to be more instable in ulcer patients, leading to iron release in the serum of the affected leg. Our data suggest the iron-driven pathway as a further mechanism for MMP hyperexpression leading to tissue lesion. [source]

The Impact of Duplex Scanning in Phlebology

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 1 2002
Nicos Labropoulos PhD
Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a tremendous medical and economic burden on society. In the past two decades the use of duplex ultrasound has emerged as the diagnostic method of choice for the diagnosis and management of CVD. In this article, we describe the specific techniques used in the assessment of the superficial, perforating, and deep venous systems. We also discuss the methods of ulcer bed and chronic obstruction evaluation. The contributions of the duplex ultrasound to the understanding of the pathophysiology and improvement of treatments for chronic venous disease are reviewed. [source]

Serum Iron and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Variations in Limbs Affected by Chronic Venous Disease and Venous Leg Ulcers

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 6 2005
Paolo Zamboni MD
Background. Severe chronic venous disease (CVD) is characterized by both dermal hemosiderin accumulation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) hyperactivation. The iron-driven pathway is one of the recognized mechanisms of MMP hyperactivation. Objective. To investigate the potential consequences of leg hemosiderin deposits on both iron metabolism and activation of MMPs. Methods. We contemporaneously assessed the following in the serum of the arm and ankle veins of 30 patients (C4,6) with CVD and 14 normal subjects: ferritin, transferrin, iron, percentage of transferrin iron binding capacity (%TIBC), and MMP-9. Optical microscopy examinations with Perls' staining of chronic wounds were also performed. Results. Histology consistently revealed iron deposits. Serum ferritin, iron, and %TIBC were significantly increased in the legs affected by severe CVD compared with the arm of the same subjects or the controls. In addition, iron and %TIBC were significantly elevated in the legs of ulcer patients. The rate of activation of MMP-9 was significantly elevated in CVD. Conclusions. The increased iron deposition in legs affected by CVD seems to be more instable in ulcer patients, leading to iron release in the serum of the affected leg. Our data suggest the iron-driven pathway as a further mechanism for MMP hyperexpression leading to tissue lesion. [source]

The Impact of Duplex Scanning in Phlebology

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 1 2002
Nicos Labropoulos PhD
Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a tremendous medical and economic burden on society. In the past two decades the use of duplex ultrasound has emerged as the diagnostic method of choice for the diagnosis and management of CVD. In this article, we describe the specific techniques used in the assessment of the superficial, perforating, and deep venous systems. We also discuss the methods of ulcer bed and chronic obstruction evaluation. The contributions of the duplex ultrasound to the understanding of the pathophysiology and improvement of treatments for chronic venous disease are reviewed. [source]

Procollagen type I gene expression and cell proliferation are increased in lipodermatosclerosis

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
A.M. DeGiorgio-Miller
Summary Background, Lipodermatosclerosis (LDS) is characterized by a hardening and hyperpigmentation of lower leg skin as a consequence of chronic venous insufficiency. The degree of skin hardening or fibrosis associated with LDS is proposed to relate directly to skin breakdown and venous ulcer formation as well as to a subsequent delay in ulcer healing. Objectives, To determine whether elevated procollagen type I gene expression and increased cell proliferation are responsible for the fibrotic changes associated with LDS. Methods, Skin biopsies were obtained from the legs of patients with varying degrees of chronic venous disease and were assessed for procollagen gene expression by in-situ hybridization and for cell proliferation by immunolocalization of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Results, The number of cells expressing procollagen type I mRNA (COL1A1) was significantly higher in the dermis of LDS-affected skin compared with samples from the other patient groups. In addition, there was a significant increase in the number of dermal fibroblasts undergoing proliferation in both LDS samples and skin samples prior to LDS changes compared with control samples. However, there was no significant difference in level of inflammation in biopsy samples between patient classes. Conclusions, These results suggest that enhanced cell proliferation and procollagen gene expression are both involved in LDS development. Furthermore, fibrotic changes may occur in the absence of, or subsequent to, any significant inflammatory response, indicating that additional profibrotic factors produced in the skin as a consequence of chronic venous insufficiency may play a role in LDS formation. [source]