Endotelon in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI):
Endotelon is a brand name product produced from grapeseed, and procyanidolic oligomers, (Sanofi-Labaz Laboratories, Sanofi Winthrop). This agent was evaluated in a study including 50 females during pregnancy for response to chronic venous insufficiency with Endotelon® dosed at 150 mg per day and diosmine (semi-synthetic flavonoid) dosed 450mg per day for 30 days. The randomized, double-blind, equivalence trial found that Endotelon compared to the diosmine faired better for heaviness, sluggishness, cramps and swelling. Over 65% of the patients responded to Endotelon verses 45% for diosmine. After stopping Endotelon, the treatment effect lasted for 15 days. Diosmine treatment related effects lasted for 10 days. This is statistically significant. Endotelon therapy was found to show consistent benefit for treatment of venous insufficiency in this study. (15)