Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06766968

Prolonged Compression Following Foam Sclerotherapy

Foam-form sclerotherapy is an effective method for eliminating varicose veins, which can be used alone or in combination with other interventions (laser or radiofrequency ablation, cyanoacrylate glue embolization) in the treatment of chronic venous disease of the lower limbs. Sclerotherapy is utilized to address both primary and recurrent varicose veins, and it is associated with a low rate of complications. Among the adverse effects, the most common is skin hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin with the formation of stripes of shades of brown directly above the treated veins), with an occurrence rate reaching 6-53% within the first month following the procedure. Still, it resolves independently in 70% of cases within 6 months. An essential component of sclerotherapy is compression therapy through bandages or medical stockings, which helps accelerate the absorption of veins and improve the aesthetic results of treatment. Meanwhile, the optimal duration for wearing compression stockings after performing foam-form sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries has not been established.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Chronic Venous Disorder Cardiovascular Diseases Varicose Veins Varicose Veins Leg Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

MedSwiss Private Clinic

Moscow, 123056, Russia

About this study

Foam-form sclerotherapy effectively eliminates varicose veins, which can be used independently or combined with trunkal ablation to treat chronic venous disease. Sclerotherapy eliminates both primary and recurrent varicosity and is associated with a low frequency of complications. Among the adverse events, the most common is skin hyperpigmentation, with a 6-53% detection rate during the first month after the procedure. However, it resolves spontaneously in 70% of cases within a follow-up period of up to 6 months. Compression therapy is currently considered a mandatory component of sclerotherapy for telangiectasias and reticular veins. Studies indicate that its use for periods ranging from 3 days to 4 months can reduce the incidence of hyperpigmentation by 1.5 to 5 times.

Meanwhile, the role of elastic compression during foam-from sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries has not yet been fully clarified. According to a recent randomized controlled study CONFETTI, wearing medical compression stockings (MCS) with a pressure of 18-24 mm Hg at the ankle continuously for 7 days compared to applying a compression bandage for 24 hours was associated with a reduction in pain intensity. Still, it did not affect the severity of chronic venous disease, quality of life, time to return to normal activity, technical success of the procedure, or the frequency of bruising. However, the risk and severity of hyperpigmentation and other adverse effects were not investigated. Therefore, there is a need to determine the feasibility of prolonged use of MCS after foam-form sclerotherapy for varicose veins.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age over 18 years;
  • Varicose veins of the lower extremities of clinical class C2 according to CEAP (Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, Pathophysiological) classification;
  • Scheduled foam-form sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries as an independent intervention or after trunkal ablation;
  • Absence of initial skin pigmentation, including that associated with previously performed trunk ablation;
  • Absence of indications for long-term use of compression therapy, including the clinical class of chronic venous disease C3-C6 and persistence of vein-specific symptoms;
  • Signed informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • History of deep vein thrombosis;
  • Contraindications or restrictions to foam-form sclerotherapy;
  • Contraindications or restrictions to long-term use of compression therapy;
  • Inability or difficulty in independently putting on MCS;
  • Refusal to participate in the study.

Treatment and study plan

Graduated Compression Stocking: 1 month using

Device

Class 2 (RAL-GZ 387 standard: 23-32 mm Hg at the ankle level) above-knee graduated compression stockings

Graduated Compression Stocking: 1 week using

Device

Class 2 (RAL-GZ 387 standard: 23-32 mm Hg at the ankle level) above-knee graduated compression stockings

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of patients with hyperpigmentation at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

    Assessed by a blinded expert based on the analysis of photographic images of the legs in 4 projections (front, back, right, and left) as the presence of a linear area of skin in various shades of brown in the projection of sclerosed veins.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Intensity of the hyperpigmentation at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

    Assessed by a blinded expert based on the analysis of photographic images of the legs in four projections (front, back, right, and left) using a 4-level Likert's-like scale: 0 - no pigmentation, 1 - mild hyperpigmentation, 2 - moderate hyperpigmentation, 3 - severe hyperpigmentation.

  2. Number of patients with hyperpigmentation at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    Assessed by a blinded expert based on the analysis of photographic images of the legs in 4 projections (front, back, right, and left) as the presence of a linear area of skin in various shades of brown in the projection of sclerosed veins.

  3. Intensity of hyperpigmentation at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    Assessed by a blinded expert based on the analysis of photographic images of the legs in four projections (front, back, right, and left) using a 4-level Likert's-like scale: 0 - no pigmentation, 1 - mild hyperpigmentation, 2 - moderate hyperpigmentation, 3 - severe hyperpigmentation.

  4. Intensity of spontaneous pain in the sclerosed vein at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

    The intensity of pain over the sclerosed vein is assessed subjectively by the patient on a 10-cm numeric rating scale at rest. Ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain of the maximal intensity).

  5. Intensity of spontaneous pain in the sclerosed vein at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    The intensity of pain over the sclerosed vein is assessed subjectively by the patient on a 10-cm numeric rating scale at rest. Ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain of the maximal intensity).

  6. Intensity of stimulated pain in the sclerosed vein at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

    The intensity of pain over the sclerosed vein is assessed subjectively by the patient on a 10-cm numeric rating scale during compression of the vein. Ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain of the maximal intensity).

  7. Intensity of stimulated pain in the sclerosed vein at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    The intensity of pain over the sclerosed vein is assessed subjectively by the patient on a 10-cm numeric rating scale during compression of the vein. Ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain of the maximal intensity).

  8. Number of patients with resorption of sclerosed veins at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    The absence of any signs of previously obliterated veins (visible veins, thickened areas) upon examination and palpation by the Investigator.

  9. The value of VCSS at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

    The severity of chronic venous disease (CVD) in the target lower limb is assessed during clinical examination using the updated Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS). Ranges from 0 to 30. The maximal score indicates more severe CVD.

  10. The value of VCSS at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    The severity of chronic venous disease (CVD) in the target lower limb is assessed during clinical examination using the updated Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS). Ranges from 0 to 30. The maximal score indicates more severe CVD.

  11. The value of CIVIQ-20 score at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

    The quality of life is assessed by the patient independently according to the vein-specific questionnaire Chronic Lower Limb Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire - 20 items (CIVIQ-20). range 0-100, a minimal score indicates the best quality of life.

  12. The value of CIVIQ-20 score at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    The quality of life is assessed by the patient independently according to the vein-specific questionnaire Chronic Lower Limb Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire - 20 items (CIVIQ-20). range 0-100, a minimal score indicates the best quality of life.

  13. Level of comfort with the use of MCS at 7 days

    Time frame: 7 days

    The patients subjectively assess their comfort when using MCS using a 10-cm numeric rating scale, which ranges from 0 (no comfort) to 10 (absolute comfort).

  14. Level of comfort with the use of MCS at 28 days

    Time frame: 28 days

    The patients of Group 1 (Experimental) subjectively assess their comfort when using MCS using a 10-cm numeric rating scale, which ranges from 0 (no comfort) to 10 (absolute comfort).

  15. Compliance with the use of MCS

    Time frame: 28 days

    Compliance with the use of MCS is assessed based on the study of the patient's diaries in Group 1 (Experimental) as a proportion of the number of days when the patient used MCS for at least 12 hours to the total duration of prescribed compression (28 days) represented as a percentage (n[MCS]/28*100%). It ranges from 0% (no compliance) to 100% (absolute compliance).

  16. Difference in the interface pressure below the MCS

    Time frame: 28 days

    The level of interface pressure under the MCS is measured in real-time using the "PicoPress" manometer ("Microlab", Italy) at points B (ankle), B1 (midway between B and C), C (widest part of the calf), D (head of the fibula), F (mid-thigh), and G (upper third of the thigh) in mm Hg. The measurements are performed in Group 1 (Experimental) at the randomization before the first application of the stocking (day 0) and on day 28. The difference is reported as the pressure at the B1 point on day 0 minus pressure at the B1 point on day 28 (pressure B1[d0] - pressure B1[d28]. It may range in a broad spectrum of numbers from 0 (no changes in the pressure over time) to minus figures (pressure increases over time) or plus figures (pressure decreases over time). It is assumed that the range should be between -10 and +10 mm Hg.

  17. Number of patients with symptomatic venous thromboembolism

    Time frame: 6 months

    Symptomatic venous thromboembolism includes deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and superficial vein thrombosis of the vein not previously treated with foam-form sclerotherapy confirmed by appropriate medical imaging (duplex ultrasound, CT-pulmonary angiography).

  18. Number of patients with phlebitis of the sclerosed vein

    Time frame: 6 months

    Phlebitis of a sclerosed vein refers to the appearance of signs of inflammation (hyperemia, swelling, pain) in the projection of a previously treated with foam sclerotherapy vein.

  19. Number of patients with skin lesions

    Time frame: 6 months

    Skin lesions related to the use of MCS refer to the emergence of dryness, peeling, rashes, hyperemia, swelling, weeping, and breaches in skin integrity while wearing compression stockings.

  20. Number of patients with adverse events

    Time frame: 6 months

    Refers to any other adverse events despite skin lesions that could be associated with using MCS of foaf-form sclerotherapy.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Prolonged Compression Therapy Following Foam Sclerotherapy of Varicose Veins

Acronym: ProCOMFFS

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 9, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.