Sclerosant

Also called a sclerosing agent. A sclerosant is a medicinal product used for sclerotherapy of varicose veins of all sizes – trunk, side branch, and perforating varicose veins as well as reticular varicose veins and spider veins.

Sclerosants effectively obliterate the varicose veins. The best-known sclerosant contains the active substance polidocanol (lauromacrogol 400). The doctor injects it directly into diseased veins, using it as either a liquid or foam. Inside the varicose vein, the sclerosant reacts with the vein wall. The body’s natural processes cause the vein walls to stick together and close off the vein, so that blood can no longer pool in the diseased vein. The body gradually converts the obliterated vein into connective tissue and it disappears with time.

Sclerosants are medicinal products that the health authorities will only authorise to be sold if comprehensive studies on their good efficacy and safety are available.