Prolonged Compression Following Foam Sclerotherapy (ProCOMFFS)

Prolonged Compression Therapy Following Foam Sclerotherapy of Varicose Veins

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Varicose Veins Leg; Chronic Venous Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Graduated Compression Stocking: 1 month using; Device: Graduated Compression Stocking: 1 week using

Detailed Description

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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 140
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Russia
  • Moscow, Russia, 123056
    • MedSwiss Private Clinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

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.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group 1: MCS for 1 month; The patient will be prescribed to use medical compression stockings (MCS of class 2 of "RAL GZ 387" standard with a pressure of 23-32 mm Hf at the ankle) continuously for 7 days between the sessions and after the last session of foam-form sclerotherapy. After that, he should continue wearing the MCS during the day (put it on within 30 minutes after getting out of bed, remove it within 30 minutes before going to sleep, and wear it for at least 12 hours a day) for 28 days.	Device: Graduated Compression Stocking: 1 month using; Class 2 (RAL-GZ 387 standard: 23-32 mm Hg at the ankle level) above-knee graduated compression stockings
Active Comparator: Group 2: MCS for 1 week; The patient will be prescribed to use medical compression stockings (MCS of class 2 of "RAL GZ 387" standard with a pressure of 23-32 mm Hf at the ankle) continuously for 7 days between the sessions and after the last session of foam-form sclerotherapy. After that he will stop using MCS.	Device: Graduated Compression Stocking: 1 week using; Class 2 (RAL-GZ 387 standard: 23-32 mm Hg at the ankle level) above-knee graduated compression stockings

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of patients with hyperpigmentation at 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.	28 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Intensity of the hyperpigmentation at 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.	28 days
Number of patients with hyperpigmentation at 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.	6 months
Intensity of hyperpigmentation at 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.	6 months
Intensity of spontaneous pain in the sclerosed vein at 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).	28 days
Intensity of spontaneous pain in the sclerosed vein at 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 months
Intensity of stimulated pain in the sclerosed vein at 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).	28 days
Intensity of stimulated pain in the sclerosed vein at 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).	6 months
Number of patients with resorption of sclerosed veins at 6 months	The absence of any signs of previously obliterated veins (visible veins, thickened areas) upon examination and palpation by the Investigator.	6 months
The value of VCSS at 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.	28 days
The value of VCSS at 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.	6 months
The value of CIVIQ-20 score at 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.	28 days
The value of CIVIQ-20 score at 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.	6 months
Level of comfort with the use of MCS at 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).	7 days
Level of comfort with the use of MCS at 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).	28 days
Compliance with the use of MCS	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).	28 days
Number of patients with symptomatic venous thromboembolism	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).	6 months
Number of patients with phlebitis of the sclerosed vein	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.	6 months
Number of patients with skin lesions	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.	6 months
Number of patients with adverse events	Refers to any other adverse events despite skin lesions that could be associated with using MCS of foaf-form sclerotherapy.	6 months
Difference in the interface pressure below the MCS	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.	28 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kirill Lobastov, PhD, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 16, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 4, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 4, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): January 9, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 2, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: varicose veins; sclerotherapy; chronic venous disease; medical compression stockings
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Varicose Veins
• Other Study ID Numbers: ProCOMFFS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: By the personal request
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: After results publication indefinitely
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: By the personal request
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No