A Clinical Differences between Asymptomatic Varicose Vein and Symptomatic Varicose Vein

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was designed to describe clinical differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic group in varicose vein. METHOD: We reviewed 59 cases of varicose vein managed in our hospital. The retrospective review of clinical records was done from March, 1999 to October, 1999. All patients were put into two groupsthose were symptomatic and asymptomatic. RESULT: Analysis showed that varicose vein was more frequent in women than in men. 27.1% were asymptomatic and 72.9% were symptomatic. The mean age was 39.1 years in asymptomatic group and 52.1 years in symptomatic group. In asymptomatic group, the mean age of the male patients was 45.2 years and that of the female patients was 35.4 years. In symptomatic group, the mean age of the male patients was 49.6 years, that of the female patients was 54.2 years. The age difference between the two groups were 5.4 years in male in comparison with 19.8 years in female. In the symptomatic group, the frequency of association with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was 21% (male28% vs female8.3%). CONCLUSION: The varicose vein appears to be a gradually progressive disease. In female patients, aging factor may be more important for the development of symptom. DVT is one of major causes of development of symptom.