Abstract
Chronic venous insufficiency, in its most severe manifestations as well as in its mild form, is linked to venous valve failure, weakness of the venous wall, and leukocyte–endothelial interactions all of which lead to cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue changes. These in turn are related to venous hypertension–induced leukocyte activation, which may provide a target for pharmacotherapeutic intervention. Currently, surgical attack is focused on correction of the sources of venous hypertension, but it is felt that this provides a crude method that hopefully will be replaced by more precise pharmacological interventions. Microcirculation (2000) 7, S23–S28.