By Katherine Kozlowski, medical author and contributor to Vein News and VeinsVeinsVeins.com
Guex et al completed a study determining the various adverse side-effects of polidocanol foam, the chemical often used in sclerotherapy injections.
Out of the 1,605 patients included, 1.1% (n=46) of patients reported adverse events from foam polidocanol injections.
Adverse reactions are listed below, from most to least common:
- Visual disturbances (13 patients)
- Muscular vein thrombosis (8 patients)
- Headache on treatment day (7 patients)
- Vasovagal fainting (6 patients)
- Nausea, vomiting on treatment day (3 patients)
- Inflammatory reaction (2 patients)
- Allergic reaction (1 patient)
- DVT (1 patient)
- Shortness of breath (1 patient)
- Chest tightness (1 patient)
- Paresthesia (1 patient)
- Re-entry perforator thrombosis (1 patient)
- Superficial Phlebitis (1 patient)
The majority of adverse side effects had onset directly after the procedure or within 6 months.
Reference:
Guex JJ, Schliephake DE, Joachim O et al. The French Polidocanol Study on Long-Term Side Effects: A Survey Covering 3,357 Patient Years. Dermatol Surg 2010; (36): 993 - 1003.