[Controlled study of increasing venous tone in primary varicose veins by oral administration of Ruscus aculeatus and trimethylhespiridinchalcone].

In a randomized double blind study, 50 patients suffering from trunk or branch varicosis were orally treated with either a commercial preparation of Ruscus extract, trimethyl hesperidine chalcone and ascorbic acid (Phlebodril), or a placebo over 2 weeks. Changes of the venous tonus were measured by means of venous occlusion plethysmography in rest position (venous capacity, venous distensibility) as well as during (active) exercise (expelled blood volume). All parameters showed a tendency towards improvement in the verum group. The changes were partly significant (p less than 0.5). The course of the study suggests that the period of treatment possibly was too short to obtain the full pharmacologic effect.