Oestradiol Levels in Varicose Vein Blood of Patients with and without Pelvic Vein Incompetence (PVI): Diagnostic Implications

Oestradiol levels in the study groups. Depicted is the ratio lower limb/upper extremity. Fig. 1a includes all patients, while in Fig. 1b patients with the highest levels of both groups were excluded (see text for explanation). Box and whisker plots show median (central line), upper and lower quartiles (box) and range excluding outliers (whiskers).

ROC curve. Sensitivity and specificity of ratios are reported. The distance of the curve from the middle values is correlated to the predictive value of the ratio as tool to differentiate patients with PVI from patients without PVI. A threshold ratio of 1.4 showed the highest combined sensitivity and specificity in differentiating patients with PVI from those without.