BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

[The possible uses of balneotherapy in treating chronic venous insufficiency of lower limbs]. 2013

L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
Dipartimenti di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, UOC Medicina Interna E, Terapia Medica e Medicina Termale. Scuola di Specializzazione in Medicina Termale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italia.

The Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) of inferior limbs is a widespread disease, with an increasing incidence as a consequence of longer life expectance, life-style, obesity, smoking, use of drugs as oestrogens and progestins and working conditions. Medical therapy is still lacking for evidence of efficacy, and compression therapy is useful only in preventing a worsening of this condition. Surgical treatment is the only radical therapy effective for the advanced phases of the disease. In this context spa balneotherapy can be considered as a possible chance to improve some subjective and objective symptoms of CVI of inferior limbs, and to prevent worsening of this condition. The authors performed a review of the relevant scientific literature concerning the treatment of CVI of inferior limbs with mineral water balneotherapy, in order to evaluate its effects on objective and subjective symptoms and its effectiveness to prevent further worsening. We searched the PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science databases for articles published between 1990 and 2011 on this topic. To this end, the authors selected few clinical-controlled and case-controlled studies; patients affected from CVI of inferior limbs were treated with balneotherapy at health spas with sulphureous, sulphate, salsojodic or salsobromojodic mineral waters. Baths in mineral waters were often associated with idromassotherapy and vascular pathway. Effects of spa balneotherapy are related to some aspecific properties, like hydrostatic pressure, osmotic pressure and water temperature, partly related with specific chemico-physical properties of the adopted mineral water. The controlled clinical studies on spa therapy showed significant improvement of subjective (such as itch, paresthesias, pain, heaviness) and objective symptoms (namely edema and skin discromias). These studies suggest that spa balneotherapy may give a good chance of secondary prevention and effective therapy of CVI of inferior limbs, but also that it needs of other clinical controlled trials.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001452 Balneology Therapy by various hot or warm baths in natural mineral waters, spas, or "cures". It includes not only bathing in, but also drinking the waters, but it does not include whirlpool baths (HYDROTHERAPY). Balneotherapy
D014689 Venous Insufficiency Impaired venous blood flow or venous return (venous stasis), usually caused by inadequate venous valves. Venous insufficiency often occurs in the legs, and is associated with EDEMA and sometimes with VENOUS STASIS ULCERS at the ankle. Insufficiencies, Venous,Insufficiency, Venous,Venous Insufficiencies
D035002 Lower Extremity The region of the lower limb in animals, extending from the gluteal region to the FOOT, and including the BUTTOCKS; HIP; and LEG. Extremity, Lower,Lower Limb,Membrum inferius,Extremities, Lower,Limb, Lower,Limbs, Lower,Lower Extremities,Lower Limbs

Related Publications

L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
[BALNEOTHERAPY IN CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY OF THE LOWER LIMBS].
November 1964, Minerva cardioangiologica,
L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
[Phlebo-varicography in chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs].
November 1991, Revue medicale de la Suisse romande,
L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
Balneotherapy for chronic venous insufficiency.
January 2023, The Cochrane database of systematic reviews,
L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
Balneotherapy for chronic venous insufficiency.
August 2019, The Cochrane database of systematic reviews,
L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
[Venous insufficiency in the lower limbs].
November 2009, Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke,
L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
[Venous insufficiency in the lower limbs].
June 1973, Ugeskrift for laeger,
L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
[Rare forms of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs].
March 1994, La Revue du praticien,
L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
[Groin lymph nodes in chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs].
May 1974, Kardiologiia,
L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
[Superficial venous insufficiency in the lower limbs].
June 2006, Soins; la revue de reference infirmiere,
L Petraccia, and G Mennuni, and M Fontana, and S Nocchi, and F Libri, and S Conte, and A Alhadeff, and B Romano, and F Messini, and M Grassi, and A Fraioli
[Results of treatment of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs].
March 1975, Khirurgiia,
Copied contents to your clipboard!