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Peripheral neuropathy in chronic venous insufficiency.
F Reinhardt1, T Wetzel, S Vetten
1Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. frank.reinhardt@neuro.med.uni-erlangen.de
Muscle & Nerve
|June 8, 2000
Summary
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) can damage peripheral nerves, affecting motor and sensory functions. This study reveals nerve fiber disturbances in CVI patients, potentially contributing to venous ulcer development.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
- Physiology
Background:
- Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is linked to lower leg tissue damage.
- The impact of CVI on peripheral nerve involvement remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate peripheral nerve function in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.
- To identify potential mechanisms linking CVI to neuropathy and ulceration.
Main Methods:
- Nerve conduction studies (motor and sensory), vibration testing, thermotesting, quantitative sudomotor axon-reflex testing, and laser Doppler flowmetry were employed.
- Thirty CVI patients and 20 healthy controls were analyzed, excluding subjects with confounding neuropathy factors.
Main Results:
- Patients with CVI exhibited prolonged peroneal nerve motor latency.
- Impaired warm and cold detection thresholds and reduced vibration sense were observed in CVI patients.
- Evidence suggests disturbances in multiple nerve fiber types (A-alpha, A-beta, A-delta, and thermoafferent-C fibers).
Conclusions:
- Chronic venous insufficiency is associated with peripheral neuropathy affecting various nerve fiber types.
- Ischemia from venous microangiopathy and elevated endoneurial pressure may cause CVI-related neuropathy.
- This neuropathy could be a contributing factor to the development of venous ulcers, similar to diabetic neuropathy.