Risk Factors for the Occurrence of Muscle Cramps in Patients with Varicose Veins

Abstract

Muscle cramps in patients with varicose veins occur more frequently in comparison with those from the general population. In this study, 421 patients with primary variocse veins were analyzed by using a questionnaire and muscle pump plethysmography in order to investigate the risk factors for the occurrence of muscle cramps in patients with varicose veins. In this analysis, 421 patients whose muscle cramps occured within 1 year prior to examination and 114 patients without muscle cramps were compared. The incidence of muscle cramps was significantly higher in patients with saphenous vein incompetence than in patients with non-saphenous varicosities. Furthermore, the patients with skin changes such as lipodermatosclerosis, pigmentation, eczema or ulcer showed a significantly higher incidence of muscle cramps than the patients without skin changes. The half-refilling time after five active dorsiflexions of the feet in photoplethysmography was significantly shorter in patients with muscle cramps than patients without muscle cramps. These findings indicate that muscle cramps occur more frequently in patients with severer venous insufficiency. In patients aged 50 or more, the prolonged standing occupation was also a risk factor for the occurrence of muscle cramps. After treatments for varicose veins, 84 of 158 patients, 53%, reported complete relief or marked decrease in the frequency of muscle cramps. However, the relief of muscle cramps was not related to age, sex, obesity, type of varicose veins, occupation, characteristics of muscle cramps or the degree of venous reflux before treatments.