[Value of vascular function tests in complicated venous pathology]

The authors define their approach to vascular function tests (VFT) and the situations in which they may be useful in the diagnosis of complicated, associated or secondary venous disease. They present various pathological cases (superficial phlebitis, swollen leg, calf pain, deep venous obstruction syndrome, intermittent claudication, subacute ischaemia, trophic disorders). In general, VFT are able to: demonstrate the haemodynamic signs of venous stasis, recognise and analyse the various forms of diabetic angiopathy and quantify the degree of ischaemia in the presence of PVD associated with venous symptoms. VFT are particularly useful when the problems to be studied have been carefully defined by means of a thorough clinical examination.