Venous Hypertension
- Feb 10, 2020
- 6 min read
Venous hypertension refers to chronically elevated pressure in the leg veins, most often caused by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). When venous valves become weakened or fail, blood that should return to the heart instead flows backward and pools in the lower extremities. This persistent reflux increases ambulatory venous pressure and impairs tissue oxygen delivery, leading to swelling, inflammation, skin discoloration, and venous ulceration.
Overview
What is venous hypertension?
Venous hypertension develops as a downstream effect of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)—a common vascular disorder affecting an estimated 25–40 percent of adults in developed nations, with clinically significant cases occurring in roughly 10–15 percent of adults. The condition often follows deep vein thrombosis, pregnancy, obesity, or prolonged immobility. As venous valves fail, the veins distend, pressure rises, and blood stagnates in the microcirculation of the legs.
This sustained pressure damages the capillary network. Normally, capillaries regulate the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and fluids between blood and tissues. Under high venous pressure, capillaries dilate and their walls become abnormally permeable, a process resembling localized capillary leak syndrome. Plasma proteins, red blood cells, and fluid seep into surrounding tissue, triggering chronic inflammation, edema, and skin fibrosis. Over time, this microvascular injury can produce the stasis changes typical of advanced venous disease.