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In a previously published U.K. trial that involved 450 patients with venous leg ulcers (present for 6 weeks to 6 months), participants were randomized to either early endovenous ablation of superficial veins at time of enrollment or optional deferred ablation (starting at 6 months after enrollment). About 80% of patients in the latter group eventually opted for ablation. Early ablation hastened healing of ulcers, but only 1 year of follow-up was reported (NEJM JW Gen Med Jun 1 2018 and N Engl J Med 2018; 378:2105).
Now, the researchers present extended follow-up (median, 3.5 years) to examine the frequency of recurrent ulcers. Significantly fewer episodes of recurrent ulceration occurred in the early-ablation group than in the deferred-ablat…