The hemodynamic effect of venous hypertension in the microcirculation of the lower limb.

Air-plethysmography has been used in order to measure resting arterial inflow in 25 normal limbs and 126 limbs with various grades of venous disease. Twenty five limbs had venous ulcers. Resting arterial inflow was 60-95 ml/min in normal limbs (95% range), 60-110 ml/min in 45 limbs with uncomplicated varicose veins, 65-162 ml/min in limbs with swelling and/or lipodermatosclerosis/pigmentation and 100-235 ml/min in limbs with venous ulceration. There was an increase in the incidence of ulceration with increasing values of arterial inflow. The abnormal increase in resting arterial inflow is considered to reflect the damage in the microcirculation produced by chronic venous hypertension. Therapy should aim to treat or prevent this microangiopathy.