Is the ‘Normal’ Limb Normal in Unilateral Varicose Veins?

Abstract

Objective:

To define venous function in the clinically normal limb of patients with unilateral primary varicose veins.

Design:

Prospective study using duplex scanning and photoplethysmography (PPG) as objective criteria of venous function.

Setting:

The Middlesex Hospital Vascular Laboratory, a teaching hospital centre of referral for the investigation of venous disease.

Patients:

Thirty patients with clinical unilateral primary varicose veins.

Results:

All clinically abnormal limbs had abnormalities on investigation. However, four of 30 patients (13%) also had abnormal duplex findings on the contralateral clinically normal limb, and six (20%) had abnormal PPG refilling times. A total of 26% clinically normal limbs could be demonstrated to have some abnormality of venous function using these two tests.

Conclusions:

We have shown that the contralateral, clinically normal limb cannot be assumed to be normal without full formal venous assessment.