Articles
Each article is an in-depth review of a single subject, written and medically reviewed by Dr Johan Blignaut, with references.
For patients
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Vein Conditions & Symptoms Spider Veins: Cosmetic or Medical? Are spider veins just cosmetic? Why they appear, when they signal a leaking vein underneath, when to have a duplex scan, and how sclerotherapy treats them. -
Understanding Vein Disease Is It in Your Genes? The Genetics of Varicose Veins Are varicose veins hereditary? How family history, PIEZO1 and other genes affect risk, what a genetic test can and cannot tell you, and why a scan matters. -
Vein Conditions & Symptoms DVT: The Blood Clot Everyone Fears A blood clot in the leg (DVT): the warning signs, who is really at risk, flights, the pill and pregnancy, treatment, and clots after vein treatment. -
Vein Conditions & Symptoms When Leg Swelling Is — and Is Not — Caused by Veins Swollen legs? How to tell vein swelling from lymphoedema, heart failure, medication, lipoedema or DVT, the red flags, and how a duplex scan settles it. -
Understanding Vein Disease What Actually Causes Varicose Veins? What causes varicose veins? Faulty valves, reflux, vein-wall changes and genetics, plus age, pregnancy, weight and standing, and why a duplex scan matters.
For doctors
- Clinical reviewLipodermatosclerosis: the red leg that isn’t cellulitisClinical review for doctors: lipodermatosclerosis (CEAP C4b), how to tell it from cellulitis, how to investigate it, guideline advice and when to refer.
- Clinical reviewManagement of Varicose Tributaries: Phlebectomy, Foam Sclerotherapy and Timing Relative to Truncal Ablation – A Narrative ReviewNarrative review for doctors: ambulatory phlebectomy vs foam sclerotherapy for varicose tributaries, concomitant vs staged treatment, ASVAL and safety.