Source: Am J Neuroradiol  |  Posted 9 years ago

Polidocanol or sodium tetradecyl sulfate appear both safe and effective sclerosing solution for varicose and telangiectatic leg veins.

Researchers from the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, in San Diego, California, San Diego, United States designed a study comparing the efficacy and safety of the two sclerosing solutions. One hundred and twenty nine patients with varicose or telangiectatic veins were enrolled for treatment with either polidocanol (POL) or sodium tetradecyl solution.

The leg veins of each patient, which lacked incompetence from the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ), were divided into three categories according to size (<1 mm, 1-3 mm, and 3-6 mm). Treatment was then undertaken randomly with either sodium tetradecyl sulfate at these percentages 0.25, 0.5 or 1.5, or polidocanol 0.5, I.0 or 3 respective of size.

Prior to treatment, an independent, three panel, blindly randomized photographic examination was obtained. This was repeated at four and 16 weeks. Researchers also included the patient satisfaction index and overall clinical improvement assessment.

Patients all showed a 70 percent improvement and expressed a 70-72 percent satisfaction in all vein categories treated, regardless of solution. No significant differences were identified in adverse effects between each group, with the exception of decreased ulcerations and swelling in the group treated with polidocanol.