DISEASES OF DEEP VEINS 

Deep vein thrombosis causes significant swelling and moderate pain of the legs.

The blood outflow from the leg is very pronounced in case of deep vein thrombosis. This causes severe swelling followed by tissue damage and the development of ulcers. If a clot detaches from a deep vein, a pulmonary artery embolism (PATE) can develop, which sometimes may cause death.

Chronic venous insufficiency of the leg veins is manifested with different signs; the most prominent are:

• varicose veins;  
• venous trophic ulcers.

Significant issues can also include:

• swelling;
• hyperpigmentation of the skin (brown spots) on the shins and at the ankles;
• atrophie blanche of the skin (white patches of scar tissue);
• lipodermatosclerosis (subcutaneous fat fibrosis);
• venous eczema.

Inflammation also plays a major role in the development of these symptoms.

If the symptoms get worse, it affects the patient's quality of life. Venous leg ulcers as the most severe manifestation of CVI are often painful, exuding, cause restricted movement and social isolation and worsen the quality of life for about 5% of the population.