EFFICACY OF TROXERUTIN IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY - A DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is associated with microcirculatory changes that can be investigated with laser Doppler flowmetry, transc utaneous oximetry, and capillaroscopy. Disturbances in blood flow and red cell properties have also been described in patients with hyperten sive venous microangiopathy. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8- week study investigated the effects of troxerutin on microcirculatory changes in 30 patients with the skin changes of CVI who were enrolled after undergoing color duplex and light-reflection rheography. A venou s refilling time of less than 15 seconds indicated significant reflux. Perimalleolar resting flow of greater than 1.5 U and altered venoarte riolar response were assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry. At study end , a nonsignificant reduction in resting flow (11.9%) and improved veno arteriolar response (21.8%) were observed in the patients who received troxerutin but not in those given placebo. In addition, significant i mprovements were noted in transcutaneous Po-2 and red blood cell aggre gation in the troxerutin-treated patients. Additional studies with mor e patients are needed to confirm our results.