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Occupational Medicine Advance Access originally published online on April 2, 2007
Occupational Medicine 2007 57(5):337-341; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqm021
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Reduction of oxidative stress by compression stockings in standing workers

Roberto Flore1,2, Laura Gerardino1,2, Angelo Santoliquido1,2, Cesare Catananti3, Paolo Pola1,2 and Paolo Tondi1,2

1 Department of Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
2 Division of Vascular Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
3 A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

Background Healthy workers who stand for prolonged periods show enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in their systemic circulation. Oxidative stress is thought to be a risk factor for chronic venous insufficiency and other systemic diseases.

Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of compression stockings in the prevention of oxidative stress at work.

Methods ROS and venous pressure of the lower limbs were measured in 55 theatre nurses who stood in the operating theatre for >6 h, 23 industrial ironers who stood for up to 5 h during their shift and 65 outpatient department nurses and 35 laundry workers who acted as controls. Subjects and controls were examined on two consecutive days before and after work and with and without compression stockings.

Results Without compression stockings, lower limb venous pressure increased significantly after work in all subjects and controls (P < 0.001), while only operating theatre nurses showed significantly higher mean levels of ROS (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in venous pressures and ROS levels after work in subjects or controls when wearing compression stockings.

Conclusions Our data suggest a preventive role of compression stockings against oxidative stress in healthy workers with a standing occupation.

Keywords      Compression stockings; oxidative stress; standing occupations

Correspondence to: Roberto Flore, Department of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Largo A. Gemelli, 8-00168 Rome, Italy. Tel: +39 06 30154294; fax: +39 06 35500486; e-mail: flore.roberto{at}libero.it


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