[Which patients follow the physician's recommendation to take edema-protective agents? : A retrospective, descriptive...

Currently little is known about patients taking edema-protective agents against symptoms due to venous diseases. In a survey approximately 7 % of the general population specified taking oral vein drugs.

In a retrospective, descriptive investigation patients of a general practitioner's office, who have orally taken red vine leaf extract (Antistax), were analyzed in terms of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, severity of venous disease, and the concomitant use of compression stockings.

The majority of the 82 patients analyzed, taking red vine leaf extract, were female (73 women, 9 men). The average age was 59 years. The BMI was on average 28.3; however, 41 % of the patients had a BMI over 30 and are therefore classified as obese (at least grade I). Of the patients, 52 % were rated clinical stage C2 and 36.5 % stage C3, according to the CEAP classification. Finally, 58 of the 82 patients wore compression stockings in addition to taking their edema-protective drug.

In the present case series edema-protective agents were mainly taken by pre-obese and obese patients in chronic venous insufficiency stages C2 and C3. Oral therapy was combined with compression stockings by 70.7 % of patients.