Study Comparing Glycerin With 1% Lidocaine and Epinephrine Versus Glycerin With 1% Lidocaine Without Epinephrine for the Sclerotherapy of Leg Telangiectasias

January 13, 2026 updated by: Goldman, Butterwick, Fitzpatrick and Groff

A Single-center Prospective Double-Blind, Split-Body, Randomized Clinical Study Comparing Glycerin With 1% Lidocaine and Epinephrine Versus Glycerin With 1% Lidocaine Without Epinephrine for the Sclerotherapy of Leg Telangiectasias

The primary objective is to compare physician-assessed clearance of telangiectatic veins between treatment legs using the Physician Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (PGAIS). Secondary objectives include assessment of procedural pain, safety outcomes, and patient satisfaction.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

This is a prospective, double-blind, split-body, randomized, controlled pilot study enrolling twenty (20) adult subjects.

Subjects with reticular veins (≥1 mm) will first undergo pre-treatment with foamed sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) using the investigator's standard technique. Subjects without reticular veins will proceed directly to telangiectasia treatment. At a subsequent treatment visit approximately four weeks later, subjects will undergo split-leg sclerotherapy for telangiectatic veins (<1 mm), with one leg randomized to receive glycerin compounded with 1% lidocaine, and the contralateral leg randomized to receive glycerin compounded with 1% lidocaine and epinephrine (1:100,000).

Each subject will serve as their own control.Both the treating investigator and the subject will remain blinded to treatment allocation. Efficacy assessments will be performed by a non-treating, blinded investigator.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

20

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

    • California
      • San Diego, California, United States, 92121
        • West Dermatology Research Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Subjects aged 20-75years.
  2. Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI.
  3. Presence of lower extremity telangiectatic veins (<1 mm) suitable for sclerotherapy (reticular veins ≥1 mm can be present but are not required).
  4. Duplex ultrasonography negative for saphenous vein reflux in both legs.
  5. Willing to undergo split-leg randomization (CG + 1% lidocaine vs CG + 1% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:100,000).
  6. Willing and able to comply with all study procedures, including standardized photography, in-person evaluations by a non-treating physician investigator, Day 90 follow-up assessments, and post-treatment compression therapy consisting of graduated 30-40 mmHg stockings worn 24 hours/day for 1 week following treatment.
  7. Subject with no known history of coagulopathy/platelet disorders (eg., hemophilia, von Willebrand disease) or liver disease/cirrhosis
  8. Subject with no history of hypercoagulable disorder such as pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, factor V Leiden mutation, Protein C or S deficiency, antiphospholipid syndrome, or active malignancy
  9. Subjects in good general health as determined by the investigator's judgment and medical history.
  10. Participants must be willing to provide written informed consent and sign a photography release for research and potential publication. Subjects must also agree to complete all study visits and procedures.
  11. Willing to avoid new lower-extremity aesthetic/vascular treatments (e.g., sclerotherapy, vascular lasers) and agree to avoid self-tanners or spray tans on the legs during the study period.
  12. Negative urine pregnancy test result at the time of study entry and all subsequent visits (if applicable)
  13. Subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use an effective method of birth control during the entire course of the study. All systemic birth control measures must be in consistent use for at least 30 days prior to study enrollment.

    1. Acceptable forms of birth control are: oral contraceptive pill, injection, implant, patch, vaginal ring, intrauterine device/coil, bilateral tubal ligation, double-barrier methods (e.g., sponge, spermicide, or condoms). Abstinence and/or vasectomized partner must agree to a second acceptable method of birth control (double-barrier) should the subject become sexually active.
    2. A female is considered of non-childbearing potential if she is: postmenopausal (no menses for at least 12 months/≥ 12 months of amenorrhea without another medical cause), without a uterus (hysterectomy) and/or both ovaries (oophorectomy).

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Positive duplex ultrasonography demonstrating saphenous vein reflux.
  2. Prior sclerotherapy or vascular laser treatment to the lower extremities within the past 6 months prior to screening/baseline
  3. History of ulceration, thrombophlebitis, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities.
  4. Active infection, open wounds, or inflammatory dermatoses (e.g., eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis) in the treatment area.
  5. Known allergy or hypersensitivity to lidocaine, epinephrine, or glycerin.
  6. Any uncontrolled systemic condition that may increase risk or interfere with study participation (e.g., poorly managed diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, cardiovascular disease).
  7. Pregnancy, intent to become pregnant during the study period, or current breastfeeding.
  8. Clinically significant psychiatric or psychological conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with compliance or interpretation of results
  9. Participation in another clinical study within 30 days prior to enrollment of this study or during this study.
  10. Unwillingness to refrain from additional lower extremity aesthetic/vascular treatments (e.g., sclerotherapy, vascular lasers, self-tanning) from the screening/baseline visit through the end of study.
  11. Unwillingness to follow a wash-out period of 4 weeks prior to screening for self-tanner application.
  12. Unwillingness to refrain from self-tanner application for 1 month prior to any visits.
  13. Unwillingness or inability to comply with post-treatment compression therapy consisting of graduated 30-40 mmHg stockings worn 24 hours/day for 1 week following treatment

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Group A Right Leg Treated with glycerin compounded 1% lidocaine and epinephrine
Subjects will be treated with foamed sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) to both legs. Four weeks later subjects left leg will be treated with glycerin compounded with 1% lidocaine, and right leg will be treated with glycerin compounded with 1% lidocaine and epinephrine.
Right leg treated with glycerin compounded with 1% lidocaine and epinephrine
Sham Comparator: Group B Left Leg Treated with glycerin compounded 1% lidocaine and epinephrine
Subjects will be treated with foamed sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) to both legs. Four weeks later subjects right leg will be treated with glycerin compounded with 1% lidocaine, and left leg will be treated with glycerin compounded with 1% lidocaine and epinephrine.
Left leg treated with glycerin compounded with 1% lidocaine and epinephrine

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Physician Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale PGAIS
Time Frame: Day 90

Please rate right leg veins:

Circle One

  • 2 Much Improved
  • 1 Improved 0 No Change

    • 1 Worse
    • 2 Much Worse

Please rate left leg veins:

Circle One

  • 2 Much Improved
  • 1 Improved 0 No Change

    • 1 Worse
    • 2 Much Worse
Day 90

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient Satisfaction Likert Score for vein improvement
Time Frame: Day 90

Please rate right leg veins:

Circle One

  1. Strongly Disagree
  2. Disagree
  3. Neutral
  4. Agree
  5. Strongly Agree

Please rate left leg veins:

Circle One

  1. Strongly Disagree
  2. Disagree
  3. Neutral
  4. Agree
  5. Strongly Agree
Day 90
Visual Analog Pain Scale Post Treatment
Time Frame: Day 1 and Day 30

Please rate pain for right leg:

Circle One 0 No Pain 1-3 Mild 4-6 Moderate to Severe 7-9 Very Severe 10 Worst Pain Possible

Please rate pain for left leg:

Circle One 0 No Pain 1-3 Mild 4-6 Moderate to Severe 7-9 Very Severe 10 Worst Pain Possible

Day 1 and Day 30

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

February 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 13, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 13, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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