[Collagens of the internal saphenous vein, normal and varicose, as a function of age].

The normal venous vein contains more collagen in the young subject than in the ageing subject. This is confirmed by the decrease of thickness of aged venous wall indicating that the fibrosis present in the aged subject is atrophic in nature. Collagen content of the varicose vein wall remains practically unchanged with age: the varicose vein is a dysplasic vein.