[Histochemical comparison of the enzyme profiles of healthy veins and varicose veins].

In the context of studies bearing on the enzymatic activity in healthy veins and varicose veins, sample sections of veins were excised in eight patients with primary varices of the long saphenous vein. The veins were subjected to histochemical methods for identifying enzymes. The histochemical dosage related to lactate-dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, adenosine triphosphoric acid enzymes, as well as lysosomal beta-glucuronidase, non-specific esterase and phosphatase acid enzymes. The authors deal with the specific problems involved in the different enzymatic methods, and their relevance to prognosis. In conformity with the results of our histochemical studies, the comparison between the enzymatic profiles of healthy and varicose veins showed an increase in lysosmal enzyme activity in the vein walls leading to varicose degeneration. The increase in activity was more pronounced in the media than in the intima. A reverse pattern was observed in the behaviour of enzymes involved in energetic metabolism. The enzymatic activity in the venous wall leading to varicose degeneration proved to have decreased. This reduction in the enzymatic activity was more marked in the intima than in the media and was particularly pronounced in the case of the histochemical identification of adenosine triphosphoric acid Ca++.