Rational therapy of chronic venous insufficiency--chances and limits of the therapeutic use of horse-chestnut seeds extract.

"The first multicentre study [ 8 ] included patients predominantly with CVI Grade I according to the classification of Widmer and Marshall [ 9 , 10 ] 1 (See Competing Interests) . Following an a priori created random list, patients were randomised into a placebo group, a compression group, and a group receiving one capsule of HCSE, standardised to 50 mg aescin, twice daily (Venostasin ® retard, Klinge Pharma, Munich, Germany). The patients of the compression group received a diuretic (25 mg hydrochlorothiazide/50 mg triamterene) once daily during the first treatment week to enable the application of optimum fitting stockings. Competing interests Dr. Ottillinger is an independent consultant for the medical and pharmaceutical industry. He has received honoraria for the preparation of this manuscript. Dr. Greeske is an employee of Klinge Pharma GmbH, a company which markets a product containing a horse-chestnut seeds extract. 1 (See Competing Intrests) Grade I: Lateral phlebectasia of the feet (corona phlebectatica paraplantaris) and tendency for oedema Grade II: Additionally different forms of trophic dermatosis like hyperpigmentation, hyperkeratosis, dermatosclerosis Grade IIIa: Healed crural ulcer Grade IIIb: Non-healed crural ulcer"