Alcohol Consumption, High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Antithrombin III, and Body Mass Index Are Associated with Great Saphenous Vein Reflux in the Thigh.

BACKGROUND: Venous valvular reflux is the main cause of chronic venous dysfunction. However, the etiology of valvular reflux is not completely understood. We conducted this study to investigate new risk factors for venous reflux of the great saphenous vein (GSV) in the thigh.

METHODS: We studied 139 consecutive patients (278 legs) who underwent Doppler ultrasonography at our hospital between March 2015 and February 2016 for leg discomfort with visible varicosities, edema, skin changes, or venous ulcer in the legs. Continuous variables included age, body mass index (BMI), hematological and blood chemistry parameters, smoking (pack-years), and alcohol consumption (days). Nominal variables included sex, comorbidities, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, and specific antibodies. The relationship of GSV reflux with pregnancy and number of children was investigated in 184 legs of 92 patients among 96 female patients.

RESULTS: On logistic regression analysis, independent factors determining GSV reflux were BMI (B = 0.126, P = 0.012), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level (B = 0.029, P = 0.025), duration of alcohol consumption (B = 1.237 E-4, P = 0.016), and antithrombin III level (B = -0.036, P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the factors determining GSV reflux were higher HDL cholesterol level, longer duration of alcohol consumption, lower antithrombin III level, and higher BMI.