To estimate the prevalence and impact of lower extremity peripheral vein diseases on the course of articular syndrome in osteoarthrosis (OA), to reveal the specific features of concomitant pathology, and to substantiate the necessity of its therapeutic correction.
One hundred and fifty-eight patients with the valid diagnosis of OA (by the American College of Pheumatology criteria) were followed up. Their mean age was 56.4 +/- 9.6 years. Lower extremity peripheral vein diseases were detected in 51.3% of the patients with OA, which permitted identification of 2 patient groups comparable for the major parameters. During the examination, the clinical parameters of articular syndrome were assessed at the start and 2 months after therapy.
The higher intensity of the pain syndrome, lowered functional activity, and more common synovitis were observed in the patients with concomitant diseases of joints and veins as compared with those without signs of venous insufficiency. After therapeutic measures, joint pain, synovitis, and lower functional activity persisted in the patients with concomitant diseases. Reexamination showed that most patients with concomitant pathology needed analgesic therapy; in Group 2 without a history of vein diseases, the dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) could be halved in 21 (27.3%) patients; 37 (48.0%) patients were in no need of continuous use of NSAID.
Impaired peripheral venous blood flow reduces the efficiency of therapy for OA, which makes it necessary to timely detect lower extremity varices and to perform goal-oriented therapy in such patients.