LOWER-LIMB NEUTROPHIL OXYGEN RADICAL PRODUCTION IN INCREASED IN VENOUS HYPERTENSION

Objective: To investigate neutrophil free radical production in patien ts with venous hypertension. Patients: Thirteen legs in patients with venous ulceration were compared with seven legs in patients suffering from lipodermatosclerosis (LDS) only and nine normal controls. Design: Leg and arm venous blood samples were obtained from each patient afte r a period of 30 min of leg dependency followed by elevation to the ho rizontal for a further 5 min. Neutrophils were isolated and free radic al production assessed by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence followin g stimulation with the chemotactic peptide FMLP. Results: The ratio of leg to arm luminescence was significantly higher in patients with ven ous ulceration (median 1.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20-3.05; p =0.0002) and those with LDS (median 1.36; 95% CI 1.05-2.01; p=0.0036) when compared with the controls (median 0.97; 95% CI 0.70-1.12). Concl usions: Neutrophil free radical production is increased in the legs of patients with venous hypertension and may be implicated in the underl ying pathogenesis of this disease.