[Drug-Based Therapy of Varicose Veins from the Perspective of Experimental Models]

Drug-Based Therapy of Varicose Veins from the Perspective of Experimental Models Abstract. Varicose remodeling of the venous wall primarily occurs in the lower extremities and is often associated with venous insufficiency. Although a large part of the western population shows various degrees of varicosis, little is known about the mechanisms driving their formation. In recent years, experimental animal models have spurred the identificatoin of target molecules and cellular mechanisms that control varicose remodeling processes. Thus, the chronic increase in venous wall tension appears to be a crucial determinant to stimulate signal cascades, culminating in increased proteolytic and proliferative activity of venous wall cells. The pharmacological inhibition of key molecules in these processes may provide a way to influence the course and severity of varicosis. This review article gives a brief insight into this topic.