[Etiopathogenesis of varicosities of the lower extremities]

To investigate the significance of heredity in the development of varicosities of the lower extremities, and to establish the association between the sclerotherapy and the pathologic changes of the perforating and deep veins as well as the share of trauma in the development of perforating venous insufficiency of the lower part of the leg, the author studied 484 hospitalized patients. By using modern diagnostic procedures, the pathologic changes of the venous system were identified and located and varicosities were classified into five groups. A positive family anamnesis was found in 64.5% of the treated patients. The relationship between the heredity and the pathologic changes of the venous system is shown in tables. Of all the treated patients, 12.2% underwent sclerotization before the admission to the hospital. In 50.8% of these patients, the author found pathologic changes of the perforating veins and in 22% pathologic changes of the deep veins, as well. Due to perforating venous insufficiency 135 patients were operated. Among these patients, 21.4% reported positive history of trauma, while in 14.1% of surgically treated patients some degenerative changes of the fatty-connective tissue of the crural fascia were found. This speaks in favour of the assumption that trauma of the lower extremities may lead to perforating venous insufficiency.