Investigation of Chronic Venous Disease in Pediatric Population

Chronic venous disease (CVD) of lower limbs for its high prevalence in adult population represents one of the main causes of morbidity in western countries, and it has also an important effect on healthcare cost absorbing 1-2% of the total health budget in western countries. Clinical manifestations related to CVD are well documented in adults, with clinical guidelines that standardize both diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of published data regarding CVD in children, and in addition, venous duplex ultrasound test of the lower limbs is performed much less commonly in children than in adults.

Therefore, the natural history of pediatric venous reflux remains unclear, although it is possible that it precedes the onset of CVD in adulthood. In this context, this observational study aims to identify the presence of venous reflux, as well as clinical and morphological data in pediatric subjects, aged between 9 and 18 years old, by performing an office vascular visit and an echo duplex scan of lower limbs. The endpoints of this study are to prospectively assess the prevalence of CVD in children, as well as to evaluate a possible correlation between vein diameter and pathological vein reflux.