[Etiopathogenesis of varicosities of the lower extremities]

This study was performed to validate the importance of heredity in the development of varicosities of lower extremities and to establish the correlation between the sclerotherapy and the pathological changes on the perforating and deep veins. The aim was also to determine the share of trauma in the development of insufficiency of the perforating veins of the lower leg. The author studied 484 hospitalized patients. By application of modern diagnostic procedures, pathological changes in the system of veins were discovered and located and varicose veins were classified into five groups. A positive family history was found in 64.5% of the treated patients. The relationship between the heredity and the pathological changes in the venous system has been given in tables. Of all the treated patients, 12.2% underwent sclerotherapy earlier. Among these patients, 50.8% showed pathological changes on the perforating veins; in 22% pathological changes, however, were found on the deep veins as well. One hundred and thirty-five patients were operated on due to insufficiency of the communicating veins. Of those patients, 21.4% stated a positive trauma in their past history, while 14.1% showed some degenerative changes in the fatty-connective tissue of the deep fascia of leg. In conclusion these results tissue of the deep fascia of leg. In conclusion these results confirm the hypothesis that trauma of lower extremities may lead to insufficiency of the communicating veins.