Duplex ultrasonography findings are not related to menstrual cycle phases in women with early symptoms of lower extremity chronic venous disease

Purpose: To investigate if duplex ultrasonography findings change according to the menstrual cycle phases in women with early symptoms of lower extremity chronic venous disease. Methods: Thirty women (60 extremities) aged 18-50 years with regular menstrual cycles who presented with complaints of telangiectasia and/or trunk varices with accompanying leg pain were evaluated prospectively by duplex ultrasonography at three different times of a single menstrual cycle. Previous DVT or menstrual irregularities were exclusion criteria. All exams were performed by the same radiologist, under the same conditions. Reflux was provoked in the deep veins, great saphenous vein (GSV), and small saphenous vein (SSV) using the Valsalva maneuver. Reflux times in each vein and average diameters of the GSV and SSV were recorded. Results: Reflux times showed no significant differences in any of the vein segments and the diameters of GSV and SSV were similar in the different menstrual phases (p>0.05). Reflux was not predominant at any specific phase, and its presence was independent of menstrual phase. Conclusions: Reflux was not specific to a particular phase of menstrual cycle in women with early symptoms of chronic venous disease.