Methods: The study included primary varicose vein samples of 20 patients (10 males, 10 females; mean age 51.6±6.3 years; range 32 to 62 years) who underwent C2-C4 varicose vein operation according to Clinical-Etiologic-Anatomic- Pathophysiologic classification and vein pathology samples removed for coronary bypass from 30 healthy controls (20 males, 10 females; mean age 55.5±6.8 years; range 38 to 70 years). Immunohistochemical staining was performed using prolidase antibody. Immunohistochemical staining of both groups was analyzed and compared with one another.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between both groups in terms of demographic data (p>0.05). In immunohistochemical analysis of varicose samples, prolidase immunostaining was negative in four cases (20%) and positive in 16 cases (80%). In healthy venous tissue samples, prolidase immunostaining was negative in 26 cases (86.7%) and positive in four cases (13.3%). Statistical comparison of healthy veins removed for coronary bypass and varicose veins with respect to prolidase immunostaining showed significant difference (p<0.001).

Conclusion: When healthy veins were compared with varicose veins, the prolidase enzyme was stained more strongly in varicose veins. Prolidase enzyme may be playing an important role in the pathogenesis of varicose veins.