Enzymes in the wall of normal and varicose veins. Histochemical study.

Abstract

An examination was made of 10 samples of the great saphenous vein, removed from persons without varices and serving as the control group. A further 20 samples of typical varices, as well as 20 samples of normal veins obtained from persons with varices, were examined. The venous walls were tested for activities of certain hydrolytic enzymes and dehydrogenase systems. In both the varicose veins and the normal veins obtained from persons with varices it was found that structural changes occur and histochemical tests show a marked increase in the activity of acid phosphatase and decreased activities of malate dehydrogenase, non-specific esterase, ATPase, and 5-nucleotidase. An increased activity of the lactate dehydrogenase was found only in 55 % of the cases. In normal veins obtained from persons with varices, these changes were less pronounced. The layer of the circular muscle cells of the media is the zone of a varicose vein which sustains the heaviest damage.