Classification of Venous Diseases

CEAP classification

The elements of the CEAP classification are:

	Clinical severity
	Etiology or cause
	Anatomy
	Pathophysiology

 There are seven grades of increasing clinical severity:

Grade	Description
C 0	No evidence of venous disease.
C 1	Superficial spider veins (reticular veins) only
C 2	Simple varicose veins only
C 3	Ankle oedema of venous origin (not foot oedema)
C 4	Skin pigmentation in the gaiter area (lipodermatosclerosis)
C 5	A healed venous ulcer
C 6	An open venous ulcer

Recommendations for new patients with venous disease

Group	Action
CEAP 1	No need to refer to NHS clinic, cosmetic problem only
CEAP 2	Refer routinely to "Fast Track Varicose Vein Clinic" for photoplethysmography assessment
CEAP 3 - 5	Refer soon to "Fast Track Varicose Vein Clinic" for venous duplex ultrasound assessment
CEAP 6	Refer urgently to "One Stop Leg Ulcer Clinic" for full leg ulcer assessment