Cathepsin D activity and protein degradation products content in the walls of varicose veins of the lower limbs.

Cathepsin D activity and the content of proteins and acid-soluble tyrosine in the walls of varicose veins, thrombophlebitic varicose veins and normal saphenous veins were determined. It was found that the cathepsin D activity in the wall of varicose veins is almost 1.5 times as high as that activity in a thrombophlebitic varicose vein wall and more than 3 times higher than in the wall of a normal vein. The acid-soluble tyrosine content of the varicose vein was slightly higher than that of the normal vein, whereas the content of the thrombophlebitic varicose vein was more than 1.5 times as high as that of the normal vein. Cathepsin D has a destructive effect on the varicose vein wall and accelerates the removal of thrombi in varicophlebitis.