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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Dark Veins In Legs?

My husband has chronic kidney disease, has had a TIA in Sept. 2010, in 1987 was diagnosed with protein deficiency in the blood. due to clotting he lost approx. 20 ft. of intestine. in 2009 he got severely dehydrated..that is when he first got the protruding dark veins in his chest..now they have extended to his right side and his arms (right being the worst and his hand) I have also been seeing them in his legs
We are quite concerned..he is 73
Mon, 4 May 2015
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hello,

visible veins of the upper chest (that have extended to the arms) are usually associated with poor vein circulation (perhaps a thrombosis somewhere?). I can't give you a specific diagnosis without radiological testing.

Regarding the leg veins, they can be visible without any problem but when they become engorged, a faulty circulation is probable. If both legs have engorged veins then it could be the valves of the veins, causing venous insufficiency, which means that the veins cannot efficiently move the blood upwards against gravity.

If only one leg has engorged veins then a thrombosis is more likely. Radiological tests are needed for all of the aforementioned situations. The most appropriate test is an ultrasound scan of the veins (triplex) which may prove thrombosis (clotting) and vein insufficiency.

I hope I've helped!
You can contact me again, if you'd like more information or clarifications.

Kind Regards!
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What Causes Dark Veins In Legs?

Hello, visible veins of the upper chest (that have extended to the arms) are usually associated with poor vein circulation (perhaps a thrombosis somewhere?). I can t give you a specific diagnosis without radiological testing. Regarding the leg veins, they can be visible without any problem but when they become engorged, a faulty circulation is probable. If both legs have engorged veins then it could be the valves of the veins, causing venous insufficiency, which means that the veins cannot efficiently move the blood upwards against gravity. If only one leg has engorged veins then a thrombosis is more likely. Radiological tests are needed for all of the aforementioned situations. The most appropriate test is an ultrasound scan of the veins (triplex) which may prove thrombosis (clotting) and vein insufficiency. I hope I ve helped! You can contact me again, if you d like more information or clarifications. Kind Regards!