The effect of pregnancy on the lower-limb venous system of women with varicose veins

Objectives: to assess the effect of pregnancy on the lower-limb venous syst em of women with varicose veins. Design: a longitudinal prospective study of 11 pregnant women, with varicos e vein disease. Methods: eleven pregnant women with varicose veins were recruited as part o f a larger study. Veins were assessed in both lower limbs using colour-flow duplex scanning at a 75 degrees head-up tilt. The diameter and velocity an d duration of reflux were measured in each vein at 12, 20, 26, 34, 38 weeks gestation and 6 weeks postpartum. Results: eleven women had reflux and varicose veins demonstrated at first s can. All veins dilated with increasing gestation. This was maximal in the s uperficial system, reaching significance (p less than or equal to 0.05) in the right long saphenous, superficial femoral and posterior tibial veins, l eft long and short saphenous, popliteal, peroneal, anterior and posterior t ibial veins. The velocity of reflux increased while the duration decreased with increasing gestation. This was most obvious in the long saphenous vein s but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: maximum changes were seen in the superficial venous system in the thigh. The effect was more pronounced on the left and the changes in re flux returned to pre-pregnancy levels in the puerperium.