Venous distensibility in patients with varicose veins.

Forearm veins were studied to determine whether patients with primary varicosity of the saphenous veins had a generalized abnormality of the venous system. Distensibility of the superficial forearm and hand veins was measured in 25 patients with varicosity of the saphenous veins, and in 25 control subjects. Patients with saphenous varicosity had a significantly greater distensibility of the undistorted forearm veins than control subjects. Hysteresis of distensibility curves was more prnounced in patients with varicosity than in control subjects; mean hysteresis index was 0.65 +/- 0.06 versus 0.28 +/- 0.02 in controls. These investigations suggest that an increased distensibility of the venous system is the predisposing factor in the development of varicose veins.