Secondary Varicose Small Pelvic Veins and Their Treatment with Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction

Identification of outcomes in clinical studies for pelvic venous disorders

OBJECTIVE

There is increasing recognition that health systems need to measure and improve the value of patient care by measuring outcomes. Chronic pelvic pain secondary to pelvic venous insufficiency can have a significant impact on the quality of life (QOL) of women affected. Despite growing recognition, pelvic venous disorders (PeVDs), an important cause of chronic pelvic pain, remain underdiagnosed. Developing a core outcome set (COS) for benchmarking care delivery enhances the standardization of care. However, there is no consensus regarding a standardized minimum set of outcomes for PeVD. We aimed to generate a list of outcomes reported in previous PeVD treatment studies to lay the foundation for developing a COS for PeVD.

METHODS

This scoping review was undertaken according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Initially, screening, full-text review and extraction was conducted on studies published between 2018 and 2023. Subsequently, the search was expanded using 1-year intervals, until, over a 1-year interval, no new outcomes were recorded. Closely related outcomes were classified into domains, and domains into three core areas: disease-specific, treatment-related, and QOL-related outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 1579 records identified, 51 publications were included. From these studies, 108 different outcomes were identified. The median number of outcomes per study was 8 (interquartile range, 6-13). Closely related outcomes were organized into 42 outcome domains, which were then categorized into 3 core outcome areas; 47.6% (20/42) were disease specific, 35.7% (15/42) treatment related, and 16.7% (7/42) were QOL related. Of the 51 included studies, disease-specific outcomes were identified in 96.1% of the studies (49/51), treatment-related outcomes in 94.1% (48/51), and QOL outcomes in only 13.7% (7/51).

CONCLUSIONS

There was significant heterogeneity in outcomes reported in PeVD studies. Most PeVD treatment studies evaluated disease-specific and treatment-related outcomes of PeVD, but few reported outcomes that measured the impact on QOL. These findings will inform the next steps in developing a COS for PeVD.

A review of the pathophysiology and evidence-based management of varicoceles and pelvic congestion syndrome

Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) in females and varicoceles in males may be regarded as closely related conditions since the main pathophysiological cause for both processes is pelvic venous insufficiency. Varicoceles are more prevalent amongst sub-fertile males, with an approximate incidence of 15% in the general male population. PCS is commonly diagnosed amongst premenopausal multiparous women, representing one of the leading causes of chronic pelvic pain. Both conditions appear to be predominantly left-sided and are associated with oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cascades with subsequent effects on fertility. Clinical examination and pelvic ultrasonography play an essential role in the assessment of varicoceles, PCS and chronic pelvic pain. Venography is generally considered as a gold-standard procedure for both conditions. There is still much debate on how these conditions should be managed. This review article provides a comparative analysis of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of both PCS and varicoceles, their impact on fertility, as well as their clinical management.

Quality of Life in Chronic Venous Disease: Bridging the Gap Between Patients and Physicians

Chronic venous disease (CVD) has a negative impact on patients' quality of life (QoL). This was demonstrated in the recent Patient Journey on CVD study, which examined QoL in patients with early- and advanced-stage CVD (Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical and Pathophysiological classification C0 to C4), and the gaps between the way in which physicians and patients viewed the impact of CVD on QoL. The study was conducted in five countries (Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Italy and Russia) and included 100 patients with CVD and 60 CVD specialists. Patients completed the 14-item Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) to assess their QoL, and all patients and physicians were questioned during a 60-minute qualitative structured interview, focusing on four key dimensions-physical symptoms, aesthetics/appearance, emotional impact and impact on relationships. The study found that physicians tended to focus more on physical symptoms than on other impacts of CVD and rarely measured QoL in clinical practice. Patients were significantly less satisfied with the management of their QoL than physicians perceived them to be. About 25% of patients with CVD reported disturbed sleep, but physicians did not routinely ask them how CVD affected their sleep. These data reinforce the importance of physicians obtaining information about the impact of CVD on all aspects of the patient's life, including sleep and QoL. Evidence from randomised controlled trials and real-world studies demonstrates that some veno-active drugs, particularly micronised purified flavonoid fraction, can positively impact QoL in patients with CVD.

Insights into pelvic venous disorders

Pelvic venous disorders (PeVD), sometimes referred to as pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS), widely impact affected patients-mainly young women's quality of life, causing puzzling, uncomfortable symptoms sometimes requiring months or years to get an explanation, while simply remaining undiagnosed in other cases. Because pelvic pain is a non-specific symptom, an appropriate diagnosis requires a careful patient workup, including a correlation between history and non-invasive imaging. Invasive imaging is frequently required to confirm the diagnosis and plan treatment. Current therapeutic approaches principally rely on minimally invasive techniques delivered through endovascular access. However, while comprehensive descriptive classifications such as the symptoms-varices-pathophysiology (SVP) classification exist, universally accepted guidelines regarding therapy to apply for each SVP category are still lacking. This review strongly focuses on PeVD imaging and discusses available therapeutic approaches with regard to pathophysiological mechanisms. It proposes a new classification scheme assisting clinical decision-making about endovascular management to help standardize the link between imaging findings and treatment.

Comprehensive overview of the venous disorder known as pelvic congestion syndrome

Pelvic venous disorders (PeVD) also known as Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) affect a great number of women worldwide and often remain undiagnosed. Gynecological symptoms caused by vascular background demand a holistic approach for appropriate diagnosis. This is a relevant cause of chronic pelvic pain and atypical varicose veins. The diagnosis is based on imaging studies and their correlation with clinical presentation. Although the aetiology of PCS still remains unclear, it may result from a combination of factors including genetic predisposition, anatomical abnormalities, hormonal factors, damage to the vein wall, valve dysfunction, reverse blood flow, hypertension and dilatation. The following paper describes an in-depth overview of anatomy, pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of PCS. In recent years, minimally invasive interventions have become the method of first choice for the treatment of this condition. The efficacy of a percutaneous approach is high and it is rarely associated with serious complications.Key MessagesPelvic venous disorders demand a holistic approach for appropriate diagnosis.This article takes an in-depth look at existing therapies of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome and pathophysiology of this condition.Embolisation is an effective and safe treatment option.

Painful Ejaculation In A Patient With Pelvic Venous Insufficiency

Pelvic venous insufficiency (PVI) is common in women but has been rarely diagnosed in men. The clinical manifestations include varicocele and pelvic disturbances; however, we were unable to find a previous description of painful ejaculation as a symptom of PVI. We present the case of a 36-year-old man with a 7-year history of severe sharp ejaculatory pain. PVI was suspected after previous treatment attempts. The diagnosis was confirmed by descending phlebography, and he underwent coil embolization of the pelvic vessels and phlebotonic therapy. At 6 months after treatment, he reported a 75% improvement in his condition. Therefore, painful ejaculation should be considered an uncommon manifestation of PVI.

MUFFIN-PTS trial, Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction for the Treatment of Post-Thrombotic Syndrome: protocol of a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

After deep vein thrombosis, up to 50% of patients develop post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). PTS is a chronic condition that reduces quality of life (QOL). Cornerstones of PTS treatment include the use of elastic compression stockings but this treatment is usually incompletely effective and is burdensome. Venoactive drugs have been reported to be effective to treat chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). However, the level of evidence supporting their use in CVI in general and in PTS in particular is low.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The MUFFIN-PTS trial is an academic, publically funded, multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial assessing the efficacy of micronised purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF, Venixxa), a venoactive drug, to treat PTS. Eighty-six patients with PTS (Villalta score (VS) ≥5) and experiencing at least two of the following PTS manifestations among daily leg heaviness, cramps, pain or oedema will be randomised to receive 1000 mg of oral MPFF or a similar appearing placebo for 6 months, in addition to their usual PTS treatment. Total study follow-up will be 9 months, with visits at inclusion/baseline, 3, 6 and 9 months. Primary outcome is the proportion of patients with improvement in VS in each group, where improvement is defined as a decrease of at least 30% in VS or a VS <5 in the PTS-affected leg. Main secondary outcomes include QOL and patient satisfaction.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Primary ethics approval was received from Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) West-Central Montreal Research Ethics Board. Results of the study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03833024); Pre-results.

Micronized purified flavonoid fraction for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, with a focus on postthrombotic syndrome: A narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a form of secondary chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) that occurs after deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Effective treatments for PTS are lacking. Micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) is a venoactive drug used in the treatment of CVI.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether MPFF is a good candidate to explore as a therapeutic agent for PTS.

METHODS

We performed a narrative review in which we identified 14 systematic reviews, 33 randomized controlled trials, and 19 observational studies that discussed the use of MPFF in CVI, as well as studies that reported on the mechanistic action of MPFF in relation to the pathophysiology of PTS.

RESULTS

MPFF targets a number of pathophysiologic components of PTS. Based on animal models and human studies investigating objective vascular and lymphatic measures, MPFF promotes venous recanalization after DVT, decreases venous remodeling and reflux, inhibits inflammatory processes, improves venous tone and stasis, improves lymphatic circulation, improves capillary hyperpermeability, and decreases tissue hypoxia. Furthermore, MPFF shows promise in improving clinical manifestations, quality of life, and objective venous parameters of CVI. Studies suggest good patient acceptability and tolerability with the use of MPFF in CVI.

CONCLUSION

MPFF is a good candidate to explore as a potential therapy for PTS. Confirmatory high-quality studies are still needed to reinforce the evidence supporting the use of MPFF in CVI. Double-blind randomized controlled trials with clinical endpoints are needed to assess the clinical efficacy of MPFF in the treatment of PTS.

Efficacy of two micronized purified flavonoid fraction dosing regimens in the pelvic venous pain relief

BACKGROUND

The venoactive drug treatment regimen for pelvic venous disorders (PeVDs) is not finally established. The study aimed at assessing the efficacy of micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) in a standard or double dose in the pelvic venous pain (PVP) relief in PeVD.

METHODS

We analyzed the treatment efficacy in 125 female patients with PeVD, who were allocated to two groups with MPFF treatment in a regular dose of 1000 mg once daily (OD) for 2 months (N.=65; group 1) or double dose of 1000 mg twice daily for 1 month and then 1000 mg OD for 1 month (N.=60; group 2). Patients underwent clinical examination along with an assessment of the PVP severity using the visual analogue scale (VAS) ranged from 0 to 10 scores, transvaginal and transabdominal duplex ultrasound scanning (DUS), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the pelvic veins with in vivo-labelled red blood cells (RBCs). The groups were different at baseline in the PVP severity (3.4±1.2 vs. 7.3±0.5 scores in groups 1 and 2, accordingly; P=0.012). DUS and SPECT were used to evaluate diameters of gonadal, parametrial, and uterine veins, to assess the presence of reflux in them, to measure blood flow velocity in the internal iliac veins (V<inf>lin IIV</inf>), and to calculate the coefficient of pelvic venous congestion (C<inf>PVC</inf>).

RESULTS

The treatment was associated with a significant reduction in the PVP score from 3.4±1.2 to 1.2±0.2 (P=0.03) when using the standard dose for 2 months and from 7.3±0.5 to 0.8±0.1 (P=0.001) when using the double dose in the 1^st month. The PVP relief was achieved on average after 13.7±0.6 and 3.1±0.8 days in groups 1 and 2, accordingly (P=0.0001 between the groups). At month 2, the C<inf>PVC</inf> reduction was found to be significantly greater in group 2 compared to group 1 (46.6% vs. 25%; P=0.018). Side effects (gastralgia, flatulence) were reported by only 2 (3.3%) patients of group 2.

CONCLUSIONS

The venoactive drug therapy with MPFF is an effective and safe option for the PVP relief in female patients with PeVD. The use of double dose in the 1^st month seems to be appropriate in patients with greater PVP severity but is associated with an increased rate of side effects.