Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Chronic Venous Disease and Implications for Venoactive Drug Therapy

Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jun 5;19(6):1669. doi: 10.3390/ijms19061669.

Abstract

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a common pathology, with significant physical and psychological impacts for patients and high economic costs for national healthcare systems. Throughout the last decades, several risk factors for this condition have been identified, but only recently, have the roles of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction been properly assessed. Although still incompletely understood, current knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms of CVD reveals several potential targets and strategies for therapeutic intervention, some of which are addressable by currently available venoactive drugs. The roles of these drugs in the clinical improvement of venous tone and contractility, reduction of edema and inflammation, as well as in improved microcirculation and venous ulcer healing have been studied extensively, with favorable results reported in the literature. Here, we aim to review these pathophysiological mechanisms and their implications regarding currently available venoactive drug therapies.

Keywords: MPFF; chronic venous disease; chronic venous insufficiency; endothelial dysfunction; flavonoid; inflammation; micronized purified flavonoid fraction; pathophysiology; venoactive drugs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Disease / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Microcirculation / drug effects
  • Varicose Ulcer / drug therapy*
  • Varicose Ulcer / physiopathology
  • Vascular Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Vascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Veins / drug effects
  • Veins / physiopathology