The relationship between venous pressure and vein wall fibrinolytic activity.

Vein wall fibrinolytic activity has been shown to be greater in the arms than the legs and it has been suggested that this difference is related to the greater hydrostatic venous pressure in the leg. Vein wall fibrinolytic activity and foot vein pressure has been measured in 40 legs from 30 patients, 25 with uncomplicated varicose veins and 15 with lipodermatosclerosis. No statistically significant correlation could be demonstrated between vein wall fibrinolytic activity and measured foot vein pressure.