Treatment of Venous Lipodermatosclerosis and Ulceration in Venous Hypertension by Elastic Compression and Fibrinolytic Enhancement with Defibrotide

Abstract

The value of elastic compression and defibrotide, a profibrinolytic and antithrombotic drug, in patients with venous hypertension, lipodermatosclerosis and ulceration was assessed in a cross-over trial. Elastic compression alone and in association with defibrotide (800 mg/day) were completed the study (18 were treated with the combined treatment in the first 3 months and 14 in the second period). We evaluated the decrease of the areas of liposclerosis and ulceration by computerized analysis of the areas. We also studied the decrease of leg circumference and subjective clinical improvement by an analogue scale line. Patients were also evaluated by laser-Doppler flowimetry, transcutaneous PO₂ and PCO₂ measurements, capillary permeability and fibrinolytic activity. Both forms of treatment were active in reducing the areas of liposclerosis and ulceration but combined treatment with defibrotide and elastic compression was significantly more effective in reducing both liposclerosis and ulceration, and in improving microcirculatory parameters and capillary permeability. The improvement in objective evaluation was comparable to the clinical improvement measured by the analogue score. The positive variation of all parameters studied was associated with a significant increase of fibrinolytic activity during the administration of defibrotide.

No side effects were observed during this study. These results suggest that defibrotide treatment is effective in treating liposclerosis and ulceration in postphlebitic limbs with venous hypertension, improving both microcirculatory parameters and subjective symptoms.