Abstract
A third theory proposed by Dormandy and coworkers in 1988 (11) noted that
leukocytes aggregated in capillaries with decreased flow and between 5% and 20% of
these could accumulate in the legs of normal individuals in the dependent position.
In patients with venous disease, this percentage was noted to be even higher, especially in the dependent position. They proposed that this ‘‘trapping’’ of leukocytes
together with sluggish erythrocyte flow resulted in plugging of the capillaries. This
resulted in localized ischemia in the surrounding tissue leading to necrosis. These
leukocytes were also postulated to liberate various cytokines and other toxic
substances which would lead to worsening of the ischemia and necrosis.