Marek Rác
We mark chronic diseases of venous system, in which the basic pathogenetic mechanism presents increased pressure in veins and chronic stasis, as chronic venous insufficiency. With regard to their high prevalence they are considered as important health, social and economic problem. Basic pathogenetic knowledge is the fact that on the microcirculatory level it comes to plenty of actions whose basis is the interaction of the endothelium and leucocytes. This complex inflammatory process leads to the change of functional properties of the endothelium. At the microcirculatory level it finally comes, by the influence of venous hypertension, to morphological changes in veins. Disrupted morphology and function of the venous wall can ultimately lead to origination of a crus ulcer. Venopharmacons are a part of complex treatment of chronic venous diseases. The most frequently they are drugs of natural origin, often multicomponent. Aescin is a representative of the group of natural venopharmacons. It is a mixture of substances isolated from the seeds of horse chestnut. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-oedematous effect. It distinctly lowers capillary permeability. It also has venotonic effect. These basic properties predetermine it for use in chronic venous insufficiency indication.