Continuous ambulatory venous pressure for diagnosis of venous insufficiency. Preliminary report

We have found that the venous pressure slope during minimal exercise is a sensitive measurement of venous disease. This parameter differed greatly in our two study populations. Due to increased venous pressure, venous insufficiency syndrome patients have a greater volume of pooled blood, which results in smaller pressure changes with each muscle contraction. In patients with incompetent valves, blood flows in a retrograde fashion in the vein, which leads to a higher steady state minimal pressure and notably to a decreased venous pressure slope. Venous pressure slope is a particularly sensitive measurement and a good prognosticator of venous insufficiency syndrome before symptoms become disabling to the patient. Our data indicate a strong correlation between venous pressure slope and venographic results. In fact, patients with abnormal venographic results invariably have demonstrated venous pressure slopes in the abnormal range.