Effect of silver-threads-containing compression stockings on the cutaneous microcirculation: a double-blind, randomized cross-over study.

Recently silver fiber-containing compression stockings for the use in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) were introduced to the market. In order to gain some first insight into the effects of these new fabrics on the cutaneous microcirculation, a double-blind, randomized cross-over trial was performed in 10 healthy volunteers. A 3 days run-in phase preceded the (2 x10 days) treatment phases and was used to assess the reproducibility of the primary endpoint, which was the transcutaneous partial oxygen pressure (tcpO(2)) measured at a probe temperature of 44 degrees C in the perimalleolar region of the reference leg in supine and dependent leg positions. Coefficients of variation for double measured tcpO(2) values were 4.2% (3.1 SD) and 5.8% (6.0 SD) for the leg in supine and dependent position. The intra-individual comparison of the effects from both treatment phases (value end of treatment - start of treatment) resulted in a negative tcpO(2) net balance for the regular hosiery (-0.93 (2.7 SD) mmHg, supine; -1.1 (3.5 SD) mmHg, dependent) but a positive net balance for the silver fibers containing stockings (0.25 (4.0 SD) mmHg, supine; 1.7 (3.9 SD) mmHg, dependent). The inter-treatment differences were statistically significant for the leg in a dependent position. The trial provides first evidence that interweaving silver threads into regular compression stockings may result in a positive effect regarding the nutritive skin perfusion.