Background: One hundred twenty-nine patients were treated with either polidocanol (POL) or sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) to compare the efficacy and adverse sequelae of each agent.
Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of two sclerosing solutions.
Methods: Each patient's leg veins that did not have incompetence from the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) were divided into three categories by size (<1 mm, 1-3 mm, 3-6 mm). Each leg was randomly treated with either 0.25%, 0.5%, or 1.5% of STS or 0.5%, 1.0%, or 3% of POL respective of size. An independent, three-panel, blindly randomized photographic examination was obtained pretreatment and at 4 and 16 weeks. Patient satisfaction index and overall clinical improvement assessment were also obtained.
Results: All patients had an average of 70% improvement and were 70-72% satisfied in all vein categories treated with either solution. There was no significant difference in adverse effects between each group except for a decrease in ulcerations and swelling in the POL group.
Conclusion: Both STS and POL are safe and effective sclerosing solutions for varicose and telangiectatic leg veins.