Background: Chronic venous disease (CVD) is secondary to venous hypertension, leading to vascular inflammation and tissue changes. The impact of CVD on skin structure and barrier function is not well characterized.
Objective: We aimed to assess the characteristics of skin alterations in mild-to-moderate CVD by non-invasive techniques based on a prospective exploratory study.
Material & methods: Female subjects (30-75 years) with CVD (Stage C2 to C4, CEAP classification) were eligible. Stage C0-C1 CVD subjects were used as controls. Women with leg surgery or a medical history that could impact the results were excluded. The skin changes on lesional (LS) and non-lesional (NLS) areas were assessed by biometric analysis including skin echography, viscoelasticity evaluation, confocal microscopy and trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements.
Results: Thirty-four subjects were enrolled. Based on computation of 26 biometric parameters using Principal Component Analysis, a significant difference between LS and NLS zones, regardless of the CEAP class, was evidenced. C2-C4 subjects presented with dermal thickening suggesting oedema associated with decreased cell density, while no difference in skin viscoelasticity was observed compared to the C0-C1 control group. Epidermal structural modifications were associated with increased TEWL correlating with CVD severity.
Conclusion: Skin alterations in CVD patients are detectable by non-invasive methods. These findings may help to better assess new therapeutic strategies.
Keywords: TEWL; mild-to-moderate chronic venous disease; non-invasive methods; skin barrier function.