Study of association of varicose veins and inflammation by inflammatory markers.

OBJECTIVE In varicose veins, increased levels of inflammatory markers are indicators of endothelial damage and increased procoagulant activity. These findings support the assumption that the constitution of blood in varicose veins differs from that of systemic blood. The purpose of the study was a correlative study of blood constituents in varicose veins and peripheral veins (normal vein) in same individual with varicose vein which was done by comparing the level of concentration of interleukin-6, fibrinogen, haemoglobin from blood of varicose veins and normal peripheral vein (antecubital vein). METHOD Using citrated plasma samples withdrawn from arms and legs of same patient and plasma obtained by centrifugation of citrated venous blood at 5000 r/min for 10 min was used for correlation. Serum concentration of interleukin-6 and fibrinogen were determined by human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Kit for both interleukin-6 and fibrinogen, which is based on the standard sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technology. This assay employs a monoclonal antibody specific for human interleukin-6 coated on a 96-well plate. RESULT Expressed as median (interquartile range) in pg/mL, leg samples from patient having varicose vein has significantly increased interleukin-6 in cases as compared to controls (p value of <0.001). Leg samples from patient having varicose vein has significantly increased fibrinogen concentration than their arm samples (p value of <0.001). Concentration of haemoglobin significantly increased in leg samples as compared to blood withdrawn from arms (p value of 0.012). CONCLUSION Blood withdrawn from the site of varicose vein appears to have significantly increased concentration of interleukin-6, fibrinogen and haemoglobin when compared to same patient's antecubital blood sample supporting the hypothesis that inflammation is increased in tissues drained by varicose vein.