pathogenesis

Last reviewed 01/2018

It is thought that the wall of the vein is weak in patients with varicose veins and that valvular incompentence follows rather than causes the dilatation of the vein.

This theory is supported by the observation that early dilatation is usually distal to an incompetent valve not proximal as might be expected if the damaged were caused by a descending valve incompetence (1).

Reference:

• 1) London, NJM, Nash, R. (2000). Varicose veins. BMJ, 320, 1391-4.