Chronic wounds represent a major socioeconomic problem. Chronic venous ulceration is one of the least well-understood types of chronic wounds. A chronic venous ulcer arises as a result of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which affects approximately 10-35% of people in the developed world, yet not all people with CVI develop ulceration. The question of why some patients with CVI develop chronic ulceration and others do not, still remains unanswered. Risk factors for the development of chronic ulceration are poorly understood and include age, residual iliofemoral vein obstruction, residual deep incompetence, persistent venous hypertension, obesity and genetics. The genetic aspects of CVI have only been vaguely evaluated. This paper reports on a literature review of the variation in genetic polymorphisms and gene expression associated with the development of a chronic venous ulceration.
Keywords: chronic venous insufficiency; chronic venous ulceration; chronic wounds; gene expression; genetic polymorphisms.