A comparative clinical trial of graduated compression stockings and O-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-rutosides (HR) in the treatment of patients with chronic venous insufficiency.

As overall conclusions from this study, and the two preceding comparable trials in which TcPO2 was measured in patients with (8) and without (7) stockings, we propose that: All patients with symptoms and oedema of CVI should be advised to wear suitable compressive stockings (this study); if they do wear stockings, then additional benefit may be derived from treatment with HR (8); for patients who are reluctant to wear stockings, for a variety of reasons, or in whom stockings may be contraindicated (e.g. mixed arterio-venous disease), then HR is an acceptable alternative (7 and this study).