The prevalence of and risk factors for varicose veins (W) were studied in elderly persons over 60 years of age who had visited the Tonya and Farabi Hospitals in Trabzon, a city in northeastern Turkey. VV were defined as dilated, tortuous and elongated veins of the lower extremities and were classified into four types. The total prevalence of VV was 36.7% (14.6% in males and 22.1% in females). Segment type varices were observed in 16.5%, saphenous type in 5.6%, reticular type in 4.7%, web type in 2.3%, and combined types in 7.5%. The prevalence of W increased with age and was greater among those with a family history of the condition in 154 of 312 patients with VV (49.4%). Other factors, such as congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, hypertension, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, height, weight, obesity, or hyperlipidemia, were not found to be associated with the prevalence of W. However, the factors of age, work posture and childbirth did show an association with prevalence, as reported by others.

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Because of the difficulty in isolating the causative organism, pericardial tuberculosis is rarely diagnosed. Adenosine deaminase activity measured in the pericardial fluid of 108 patients was initially of undetermined origin. Subsequently, we classified five sources: (1) tuberculosis (20 cases); (2) idiopathy (82 cases); (3) neoplasia (three cases); (4) purulent bacterial infection (two cases); and (5) radiotherapy (one case). The highest mean adenosine deaminase value (126 +/- 16.68 U.l(-1) was found in group 1; other values were 29.4 +/- 8.9, 27 +/- 7.21, 29.5 +/- 13.4, 26 U.l(-1) in the idiopathy, neoplasia, purulent bacterial infection and radiotherapy groups, respectively. there was a statistically significant difference between group 1 and the other groups (P less than 0.001), indicating that the adenosine deaminase value has 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity. In addition, there was a positive correlation between high adenosine deaminase values and the development of constrictive pericarditis. In this study, two patients required pericardectomy. Therefore, the adenosine deaminase value is a significant prognostic indicator for the development of constrictive pericarditis in tuberculous pericarditis.