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RecruitingNCT07276243FOAM-LASERUpdated May 5, 2026

Polidocanol Foam With or Without Transdermal Laser in Varicose Veins

An interventional study of Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy and Transdermal Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser in Varicose Veins, sponsored by Hospital Universitario Pedro Ernesto. Recruiting at 1 site in Brazil. Open to participants aged 21 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-05.

Sponsored by Hospital Universitario Pedro Ernesto · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
102
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
21 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This randomized, parallel clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment will compare the clinical and aesthetic outcomes of polidocanol foam sclerotherapy alone versus polidocanol foam associated with long-pulse 1064 nm Nd:YAG transdermal laser in the treatment of lower-limb tributary varicose veins. The primary endpoint is venous occlusion rate at 30 days, assessed by Doppler ultrasound. Secondary outcomes include cutaneous hyperpigmentation, pain, patient satisfaction, and adverse events.

Read the detailed description

The study aims to evaluate whether the association of transdermal Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser with polidocanol foam improves venous occlusion and aesthetic outcomes compared to foam alone. Participants will be adult patients with lower limb varicose veins CEAP 1-3 confirmed by Doppler ultrasound. After randomization (1:1), the control group will receive 0.5% polidocanol foam, while the intervention group will receive 0.25% polidocanol foam followed by transdermal laser application. A second session will be performed only if partial occlusion persists at the 30-day follow-up. Assessments will include venous occlusion at 30, 90 and 180 days after the procedure, pigmentation, pain intensity, number of sessions required, patient satisfaction, and adverse events. Standardized photographs will be taken at baseline, 30, 90 and 180 days.

02

Conditions studied

  • Varicose Veins

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03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
21 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 21 to 75 years
  • CEAP clinical class 1-3
  • Lower limb tributary varicose veins 2,5 to 4,0 mm in diameter on Doppler ultrasound.
  • Vein depth up to 4 mm from the skin surface.
  • Tributary vein may originate from the great or small saphenous vein as long as the saphenous vein is competent on Doppler.
  • Reflux limited to the target tributary.
  • Body mass index (BMI) \< 35 km²/m²
  • Able and willing to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • CEAP clinical class ≥ 4
  • Axial reflux of the great or small saphenous vein requiring prior treatment
  • Tributary vein diameter \< 2.5 mm or > 4.0 mm on Doppler
  • Tributary vein depth > 4 mm from the skin surface
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Known allergy or hypersensitivity to polidocanol
  • History of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in the last 6 months
  • Use of anticoagulant therapy that cannot be safely interrupted
  • Active skin infection or ulcer at the treatment site
  • Autoimmune or connective tissue disease with active vasculitis
  • BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²
  • Inability to comply with follow-up visits
  • Previous treatment of the target vein in the past 6 months (laser, foam, surgery, or microphlebectomy).
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
102 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Group A: Foam only

    Polidocanol 0,5% foam prepared with 1 mL of sclerosant and 3 mL of room air, injected under visualization of reticular vein (5 - 8 mL total).

    Drug: Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy

  • Experimental
    Group B: Foam + Laser

    Polidocanol 0,25% foam (1 mL of sclerosant + 2 mL of room air) followed within 2 minutes by long-pulse Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser (spot 6 mm; pulse 20-30 ms; fluence 60-70 J/cm²), with skin cooling.

    Drug: Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy · Device: Transdermal Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser

Interventions

  • DrugPolidocanol foam sclerotherapy

    Polidocanol foam prepared using the Tessari method. Concentration 0,5% (Foam Arm) or 0,25% (Foam + Laser Arm), injected under ultrasound guidance.

  • DeviceTransdermal Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser

    Long-pulse Nd:YAG 1064 nm transdermal laser applied along the treated vein path immediately after foam injection.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Venous occlusion rate at 30 days

    Ultrasound assessment of the treated vein segment 30 days after the first session, defined as complete absence of detectable flow in the treated vein or partial occlusion with significant reduction in reflux and/or venous diameter, and performed by an independent physician who is blinded to group assignment and not involved in the treatment procedures.

    Time frame: 30 days after the first session

Secondary outcomes

  1. Venous occlusion rate at 90 days

    Ultrasound assessment of the treated vein segment 90 days after the first session, defined as complete occlusion or partial occlusion with improvement inreflux and/or reduction in venous diameter, and performed by an independent physician who is blinded to group assignment and not involved in the treatment procedures.

    Time frame: 90 days after the first session

  2. Final venous occlusion rate at 180 days

    Ultrasound assessment of the treated vein segment 180 days after the first session, defined as complete absence of detectable flow in the treated vein or partial occlusion with significant reduction in reflux and/or venous diameter, and performed by an independent physician who is blinded to group assignment and not involved in the treatment procedures.

    Time frame: 180 days after the first session

  3. Pain intensity immediately after the procedure

    Participant-reported pain intensity in the treated limb, measured immediately after the session, using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Higher scores indicate greater pain.

    Time frame: Immediately after the procedure (within 30 minutes)

  4. Hyperpigmentation at the treated site

    Skin hyperpigmentation will be assessed by an independent physician blinded to the treatment allocation, using standardized comparative photographs obtained at baseline, 30 days, 90 days, and 180 days.

    Time frame: 30, 90, and 180 days after the first session.

  5. Number of treatment sessions required

    Total number of sessions needed to achieve venous occlusion according to the study protocol (maximum of two sessions).

    Time frame: Up to 90 days after the first session.

  6. Patient-reported aesthetic satisfaction

    Patient global assessment of cosmetic improvement using a 5-point Likert scale (from "no improvement" to "complete improvement").

    Time frame: Assessed at 90 days after the first session.

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto - UERJ
    Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20551-030, Brazil
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — The study will not share individual particiapnt data (IPD). Aggregate results will be published in scientific journals.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07276243
Lead sponsor
Hospital Universitario Pedro Ernesto
Responsible party
Juliana de Miranda Vieira (Principal Investigator, Hospital Universitario Pedro Ernesto) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 10, 2025
Start date
Mar 24, 2026
Primary completion
Aug 30, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 30, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
May 5, 2026

Study contacts

Juliana de Miranda Vieira, PhD
Contact
juliana.vieira@hupe.uerj.br
+ 55 21 99972 2885
Juliana Vieira, PhD
principal investigator · Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto - UERJ

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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