Re: Help Dr. Buchfuhrer! Is this legit?

[Guest guest]

Hi Gang,

First of all, not everyone has varicose veins. I wish it were this simple!

Here is from Dr. Elaty's INFORMATION ON RLS available just updated at:

http://www.mlists.net/judson/Elaty.html

H. Varicose Veins

One study shows 111 patients of 113 treated for this with Sclerotherapy showed

improvement of their RLS symptoms. However, symptoms in 8% came back in a year

and in 28% in two.

111 of 113 = 98% which is mighty good. Dr. Elaty suggests that his RLS

patients with varicose veins consider the above treatment but to be fully

informed on possible drawbacks as he does not consider the treatment described

as being totally " harmless. " His attitude is it might be worth a try provided

all other possible underlying or aggravating causes have been looked into.

Has anyone with RLS had Sclerotherapy and found their RLS symptoms improved

who had varicose veins?

Below is the abstract of the medical journal article on it. I notice the

author is in Orange County, CA, Dr. Bucfuhrer's territory; perhaps he knows

more about it. One can ask who diagnosed the 113 as having RLS? Is this trying

to peddle the Sclerotherapy which many doctors highly advertise? Is this

Journal the article in one of the reliable ones; there are thousands of

medical journals so you can't be quite sure this was a peer reviewed article.

Regardless, it needs to be looked into!

I don't think anyone in our local support group has had varicose veins or if

they did tried the treatment.

The effect of sclerotherapy on restless legs syndrome.

Author: Kanter AH

Address: Vein Center of Orange County, Irvine, CA 92714, USA.

Source: Dermatol Surg, 1995 Apr, 21:4, 328-32

BACKGROUND. Restless Legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder of unknown etiology

characterized by relentless leg discomfort when stationary, which compels

voluntary leg movement to obtain temporary relief. We have received anecdotal

reports of coincidental relief from symptoms of RLS in patients following

sclerotherapy for varicose vein disease.

OBJECTIVE. To prospectively evaluate the concomitant occurrence of RLS and

varicose veins in a population seeking treatment for varicose veins, and to

assess the therapeutic response of RLS to sclerotherapy.

METHODS. One thousand three hundred and ninety-seven patients were screened

for RLS symptoms by questionnaire and interview, and for saphenous vein

disease by clinical examination, including continuous-wave Doppler.

Sclerotherapy with sodium tetradecyl sulphate was performed on 113 RLS

patients.

RESULTS. RLS symptoms were present in 22% (312/1,397), with a Doppler-negative

to Doppler-positive ratio of 3:2. One hundred and eleven of the 113 treated

patients (98%) reported initial relief from RLS symptoms. Follow-up thus far

shows a recurrence rate of 8% and 28% at 1 and 2 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS. RLS is common in patients with both saphenous and nontruncal

varicose vein disease, and can respond frequently and rapidly to

sclerotherapy. This subpopulation of RLS sufferers should be considered for

phlebological evaluation and possible treatment before being consigned to

chronic drug therapy.