Increased activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway in varicose veins

Varicose veins (VVs) cause debilitating symptoms, including pain, skin changes, and ulceration to patients. Despite the burden, the pathophysiology of VVs remains incompletely understood. Vein wall changes are now thought to be the primary events of VV formation. Understanding the upstream regulation of these changes may help to identify new therapeutic targets for VVs. This study examined hypoxia as a potential factor associated with VV wall changes by assessing the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway in VVs. The results demonstrate an increased activation of the HIF pathway in VVs which could be regulated by hypoxia, suggesting it as an attractive therapeutic target for the disease.