[Diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency]. / Diagnostische Verfahren bei chronischer venöser Insuffizienz.

For the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), various therapeutic options are available. In addition to conservative compression therapy, classical vein surgery, sclerotherapy and endoluminal therapies are increasingly being used to treat varicose veins. For a differentiated indication and correct treatment planning, a stepwise diagnosis with clinical examination and documentation of typical symptoms, dynamic vein function measurement to assess the global venous status as well as a qualitative assessment of the exact insufficient vein segments by means of color-coded duplex sonography is required. Due to the non-invasiveness of the examination and the good assessability of therapeutically relevant parameters such as anatomic conditions, diameter, and reflux of insufficient veins, color-coded duplex sonography is considered the gold standard for imaging diagnostics.

[Innovations in medical compression therapy]. / Innovationen der medizinischen Kompressionstherapie.

For the treatment of phlebological and lymphological diseases as well as constitutional edema diseases, a discussion of innovative concepts of medical compression therapy is essential. It is recommended that medical compression stockings should always be prescribed based on symptoms and with the lowest effective interface pressure to optimize the tolerability of compression therapy. Likewise, medical compression stockings with an integrated care formula, but also the application of additional skincare can improve the quality of life and compliance in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. Optimization of ulcer therapy can be achieved by using two-component compression stocking systems. These consist of an understocking and a firm outer compression stocking, which improve the venous and capillary hemodynamics with good wearing comfort and lead to the healing of venous ulcerations. Multicomponent compression bandages and short stretch bandages are proven in the decongestion phase of edema. Multicomponent bandages ensure a sustained interface pressure for at least 5 days and are ideal for outpatient treatment with less frequent dressing changes. For compression therapy in patients with arterial-venous leg ulcers (ABI [ankle brachial index] >0.5), specially developed "lite" versions of the multicomponent dressings can be used.

Rheopheresis as a causal therapy option for systemic scleroderma (SSc).

A complex pathomechanism accounts systemic sclerosis as a form of collagenosis. A triad of vasculopathy, autoinflammation, and dysbalance of the fibroblast function can be seen as cause, as well as symptomatic appearance. Comparative with other collagenoses, e.g. Lupus erythematosus, vasculopathy, instead of autoinflammation, appears to be clinically important in systemic scleroderma. The fact that autoinflammation does not represent the major role in the maintenance of the disease is also evident by the lack of therapeutic effects of classical systemic immunosuppressants. Therapeutic approaches with regard to vasculopathy show better effects. In consideration of therapeutic options, such principles are therefore most important. Apheretic methods filter out plasma proteins in the sense of plasmapheresis. Fibrinogen as a plasma viscosity factor is predominantly targeted and filtered out. In addition other accompanying plasma proteins are also reduced. This occurs on the one hand by dilution effects and on the other by unspecific binding. By this mechanism, acute phase proteins such as the C-reactive protein and various cytokines, especially interleukin-6 are reduced by this method. Looking more closely at these random adjunctive plasma proteins, a possible central role of interleukin-6 in the development and maintenance cascade of systemic scleroderma becomes clear.

[Evidence of compression therapy]. / Evidenz der Kompressionstherapie.

BACKGROUND: Medical compression therapy is widely used to treat phlebologic diseases. Compression bandages as well as compression stockings are used. Compression has been identified to be an effective conservative therapy for the healing of venous ulcers and other indications. Thus, the evidence for the use of medical compression therapy and for which indications is presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review and systematic presentation of the evidence-based use of compression. The current literature, guidelines, and consensus statements were searched and the indications for compression therapy are presented. RESULTS: There is a high level of evidence that compression therapy is effective to heal venous ulcers and to prevent recurrent ulcers. The use of compression bandages and hosiery after interventional and surgical procedures for varicose veins is based on experience but not on randomized controlled trials. According to clinical experience, the healing of inflammatory skin diseases (e.g., erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum, necrobiosis lipoidica, cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and psoriasis of the extremities) is supported by compression therapy. Compression therapy in patients suffering from venous ulcers is highly recommended.