Effect of Paroven on Skin Oxygenation in Patients with Varicose Veins

A double blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was undertaken to investigate the effect of 500 mg bd of Paroven taken for four weeks on the tissue oxygenation, ankle oedema and calf pump function of 48 patients with chronic venous disease. There was no evidence that Paroven reduced ankle swelling or improved calf pump function, but it did cause a significant improvement in transcutaneous oxygen levels measured in the calf skin of the ulcer hearing area ( p = 0.026) which was confirmed when the oxygen levels of the active and placebo treated groups were compared at the end of four weeks treatment ( p = 0.02). This improvement in tissue oxygenation may be the result of alterations in the capillary exchange produced by the drug and may account for the symptomatic benefit associated with its use.