A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF THE LONG-TERM EFFICACY OF 2 DIFFERENT VENOACTIVE DRUGS IN PATIENTS WITH POSTTHROMBOTIC SYNDROME

Objective: In an open cross-over study, the effect of two different ve noactive drugs was prospectively studied in a series of patients with post-thrombotic syndrome. Design: Prospective, open cross-over study. Patients: Twenty-nine patients with established unilateral deep venous insufficiency of at least 12 months duration, and a history of venogr aphy-proven deep venous thrombosis in the affected leg. Interventions: On entering the study, patients were randomly assigned to receive eit her Hidrosmina (Venosmil, FAES SA, Spain) 600 mg daily, or 0-(beta-hyd roxyethyl)-rutosides (Venoruton, Zyma SA, Switzerland) 900 mg daily. T he drugs were taken for 6 months. At the end of this period, the drug was discontinued, and patients taking Hidrosmina changed to rutosides, or vice versa, for a further 6-month period. Finally, both drugs were discontinued, and patients were re-examined 3 and 6 months later. Res ults: During the first 6-month period, 12 out of 29 patients showed re duced tiredness and/or pain in the leg in comparison to the control vi sit. Furthermore, a slight reduction was found in mean circumferences of both the ankle and calf during this study period. During the second 6-month period of therapy, six additional patients improved their sub jective symptoms, but there were three patients in whom these symptoms had increased. Six months after discontinuation of therapy, subjectiv e symptoms increased in 10 out of 29 patients, and mean circumferences of both the ankle and calf returned to baseline values. Conclusions: In this pilot study our findings demonstrate that venoactive drugs may improve both objective and subjective symptoms in patients with post- thrombotic syndrome, and that these effects disappear after drug thera py is discontinued.