[Systemic therapy of chronic venous diseases]

The therapy of chronic venous insufficiency is multifactorial. Compression, interventional and operative approaches are available along with the possibility of systemic treatment. The efficacy of systemic venotonic medications, mostly phytotherapeutic agents, is controversial. Nonetheless in a number of clinical and laboratory studies, an effect was seen after use for 8-12 weeks. When administered appropriately, venotonic agents can show anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, proteolytic effects as well as reducing capillary leakage. Furthermore they increase vein tone and lymph flow. Venotonic agents should be used if compression therapy alone is either not sufficient, contraindicated or not tolerable. They can be useful as a temporizing measure until surgical intervention is performed. Some of them can even be used in pregnancy, but the indications are very strict.