Effectiveness of Hypertonic Saline, Polidocanol, and Glycerol as Sclerosing Agent: An Experimental Study in Javan Rabbits (Lepus nigricollis)

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic approaches to varicose veins include sclerotherapy, laser ablation, and surgery. Using sclerosing agents such as hypertonic saline, polidocanol, and glycerol can be an option in cases of recurrent varicose veins. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of hypertonic saline, polidocanol, and glycerol as sclerosant agents in an in vivo study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was an experimental study on 24 Javan rabbits, divided into three treatment groups: hypertonic saline (group I, n=8), polidocanol (group II, n=8), and glycerol (group III, n=8). All animals received treatment by injection into the vein behind the ear, then vein damming 10 minutes later. Punch tissue samples for standard histopathological examination were taken from blood vessels at 1 hour, 24 hours, 7 days, and 45 days post-treatment across all groups. The histopathology changes were scored based on inflammation, proliferation, luminal narrowing, and fibrosis. RESULT: No differences were observed in the degrees of inflammation, proliferation, luminal narrowing, or fibrosis at different observation intervals. However, a significant and positive correlation was found between inflammation, vascular proliferation, and fibrosis with all sclerosing agents (p<0.005). No significant correlation exists in the scoring of luminal narrowing among any sclerosing agent (p>0.005). CONCLUSION: Hypertonic saline, polidocanol, and glycerol demonstrated comparable efficacy as sclerosing agents in vivo concerning fibrosis, vascular proliferation, and inflammation.