International angiology : a journal of the International Union of Angiology
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The venous system plays an important role in the determination of cardiac output and venous return. Venous tone is a property of the venous system which reflects the venous resistance and pressure. An increased venous tone caused by venoconstriction leads to an increased net capillary filtration by increasing the venous resistance and venous pressure. ⋯ The limbs of normal individuals that are at a high risk of developing varicose veins have an abnormal K(K = 1.33). This method is however invasive and we have developed a non-invasive method of calculating the elastic modulus <
> using air plethysmography. This method has shown a good reproducibility in 3 healthy volunteers examined and this technique can be used to study the effect of a phlebotonic agent on the venous tone in patients at high risk of developing venous insufficiency.