Venodynamics in healthy subjects and in patients with venous dysfunction

The common pathway leading to venous ulceration in the lower limbs includes ambulatory venous hypertension, caused by valvular dysfunction and thrombosis of segments of the deep venous system (1-3). Precisely how this hypertension leads to ulceration is unclear; several studies indicate that increased venous pressure disturbs normal function of the microcirculation and interstitium, including a local inflammation, which in turn causes venous ulceration (4-11). This presentation focuses on physiological aspects of the venous circulation in normal limbs and in those with venous dysfunction.