Abstract: ［Abstract］Objective〖HTSS〗To investigate the relationships between lower extremity primary chronic venous insufficiency(PCVI) and epithelial mesenchimal transition(EMT).
 〖WTHZ〗Methods〖HTSS〗Sixty-seven patients with PCVI were classified into mild groups(n=28), moderate group(n=21), and severe group(n=18). Sixteen patients without PCVI were allocated to control group. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression of E-cadherin and Vimentin in the varicose vein specimens.
 〖WTHZ〗Results〖HTSS〗Expressions of E-cadherin mRNA and protein in mild group, moderate group and severe group were lower than those in control group. Between different PCVI groups, the expression of E-cadherin mRNA and protein in moderate group and severe group was lower than mild group(P＜0.01).Similarly, expression of E-cadherin mRNA and protein in severe PCVI group were lower than those in moderate PCVI group. The Vimentin mRNA and protein expression levels in mild, moderate and severe group had no significant difference to control group(P＞0.05).
 〖WTHZ〗Conclusion〖HTSS〗The vascular remodeling of PCVI seems to have no relation with EMT. But the expression level of E-cadherin is decreased with the clinical severity of PCVI, therefore it may be an indicator when assessing severity of PCVI.

Key words: Venous Insufficiency； epithelial mesenchimal transition, vascular remolding