Selected indicators of the antioxidant system in the blood of patients with lower limb varicose veins

Abstract

Background. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation plays a crucial role in chronic venous disorders (CVD). The aim of this study was to investigate whether ROS generation is changed or decreased in patients affected by varicose disease.
Material and methods. The local vein production of ROS was assessed by measuring the Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) plasma concentrations in blood collected from the varicose veins and antecubital veins of 31 subjects (23 women and 8 men).
Results. An oxidant-antioxidant misbalance was detected, which displayed itself through a level of MDA concentration higher in plasma samples of varicose veins than in ulnar blood samples in both compared groups (women and men) (p ≤ 0.007; Wilcoxon test) as well as through a reduced Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma of samples of varicose veins. FRAP concentration was higher in plasma samples of ulnar blood than in varicose veins (p ≤ 0.002; Wilcoxon test).
Conclusions. The study results point out the important role of oxidative stress developing in the capillary angiogenesis and varicose transformation of the surface veins in the legs.