[From thrombosis to post-thrombotic syndrome--plethysmography studies of venous function]

46 patients with deep vein thrombosis have been investigated by strain gauge plethysmography and by foot-volumetry in the acute state, after 4 weeks, and after every year up to 5 years. The primary therapy consisted in anticoagulation, compression-bandages and walking exercises. Venous drainage measured by venous occlusion plethysmography showed in average a normalisation after one year, while expelled volume as a parameter for the venous pumping function (assessed by foot-volumetry) remained in the pathological range. Since the clinical outcome--ulceration in 6.5%, lipodermatosclerosis in 15% and no major signs in 78%--does not correspond to these functional findings it is concluded that venous refluxes which are the main cause for the impeded pumping function lead to skin changes only in specially predisposed cases.