By Katherine Kozlowski, Medical Author and Contributor to Vein News and www. VeinsVeinsVeins.com
Compression stockings attenuate the expression of proteins associated with vascular damage in human varicose veins
There are several biological indicators of chronic venous disease that can be measured in the body. Moñux et al (2020) measured six biomarker levels from dilated collateral varicose vein samples in patients with chronic venous disease.
The purpose of the study was to determine if compression stocking therapy changes measurable biomarkers associated with venous insufficiency.
Who was included in the study?
24 subjects with chronic venous insufficiency were included. All patients had scheduled elective surgery to treat their venous insufficiency.
Subjects were randomized into two groups:
1. Experimental patients who used compression stocking therapy for one month prior to elective procedures (n=12)
2. Control patients who did not use compression stocking therapy for one month prior to elective procedures (n=9).
The following biomarkers were measured:
1. Nitric Oxide Synthase 3 (NOS3): associated with endothelial function (vascular tone in smooth muscle cells)
2. Interleukin-6 (IL-6): marker of inflammation
3. Interleukin-10 (IL-10): marker of inflammation
4. Gp91phox: a marker of oxidative stress
5. Factor Xa: a marker of coagulation
6. P-selectin: a biomarker of inflammation, predictor of platelet activation, DVT, and VTE
What are the results of the study?
Compression stocking therapy increased NOS3 content (83.71 AU in the experimental group versus 16.48 AU in controls; p<.001)
Compression stocking therapy reduced IL-6 levels (14.49 pg/ug in the experimental group versus 38.72 pg/ug in controls; p=.001)
Compression stocking therapy reduced expression of Gp91phox (36.85 AU in the experimental group versus 63.24 AU in controls; p<.010)
Compression stocking therapy reduced P-selectin (54.31 AU in the experimental group versus 77.37 AU in controls; p=.017) However, the change in P-selectin was not statistically significant when considering dyslipidemia as a covariant.
Compression stocking therapy reduced Factor Xa expression (14.50 AU in the experimental group versus 90.78 AU in controls; p<.001)
How do we interpret this data?
Compression stocking therapy improved biomarker levels associated with endothelial functionality, inflammation, oxidative stress, and coagulation in varicose vein walls.
The study suggests that it may be useful to further evaluate and understand the relationship between molecular mechanisms in varicose veins and stocking compression in order to determine new approaches for non-invasive compression stocking therapy.
Reference: Moñux G., de la Serna-Soto M., Plá-Sanchez F. et al. Compression stockings attenuate the expression of proteins associated with vascular damage in human varicose veins. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2020.