PLASMA ELASTASE IN VENOUS DISEASE

The plasma elastase level was measured as a marker of neutrophil degra nulation in three groups, each of 15 patients, with uncomplicated vari cose veins, lipodermatosclerosis (LDS) and venous ulceration. The valu es obtained were compared with those in age- and sex-matched control s ubjects. Significantly higher levels of elastase were found in all pat ient groups compared with controls: median 25.6 ng/ml for patients wit h uncomplicated varicose veins, 22.1 ng/ml for those with LDS, 26.0 ng /ml for those with venous ulceration. There was no difference in neutr ophil count between the patient and control groups. These results prov ide evidence of increased neutrophil degranulation in patients with ve nous disease. The finding of raised elastase levels in all three patie nt groups shows that this was not due solely to the inflammatory proce ss characterizing LDS and venous ulceration.