Sclerosing agents are used in sclerotherapy of varicose veins, where the irritant solution is injected into the blood vessels. Sclerosing agents are used to treat varicose veins.
Sclerosing agents are part of the treatment of tendinopathy as an adjuvant when there are hypervascularisations in a tendon that are in the process of recovery.
Common detergent sclerosants include polidocanol, sodium tetradecyl sulfate, sodium morrhuate, and ethanolamine oleate. The latter two are used for endoscopic injection of bleeding varices and have complication profiles too high for safe use for varicose veins.
Sclerotherapy (endovenous chemical ablation) can also be used as a primary treatment for nonsaphenous varicosities and saphenous veins, commonly using ultrasound assistance. The most commonly used agents are hypertonic saline, sodium tetradecyl sulfate, polidocanol, and chromated glycerin.
Sclerotherapy is a nonsurgical procedure. Doctors may also use it to treat blood and lymph vessel disorders that cause vessels to form incorrectly. The solution is called a sclerosant, and it irritates the targeted vessel, causing it to swell.
Polidocanol is a sclerosing agent indicated to treat uncomplicated spider veins and uncomplicated reticular veins in the lower extremity.
