Sclerosing agents are substances that cause marked tissue irritation and thrombosis, resulting in inflammation, tissue necrosis, fibrosis and contraction. This allows sclerosing agents to be used to occlude veins. Two common sclerosing agents are sodium morrhuate and sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS). Sodium morrhuate is a sterile solution of sodium salts from cod liver oil used to treat varicose veins. STS is a detergent-based chemical that destroys the lipid molecules and internal lining of veins, eventually sclerosing the veins when used in concentrations from 0.1% to 3%.

1. SCLEROSING AGENTSSCLEROSING AGENTS
Dr Taj Khan
Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Oriental College of Pharmacy,
Sanpada, New Mumbai.

2. IntroductionIntroduction
SCLEROSING AGENTSSCLEROSING AGENTS
sodium morrhuatesodium morrhuate
Sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS)Sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS)

3. Sclerosis:Sclerosis:
- Abnormal hardening of body tissue.- Abnormal hardening of body tissue.
-In medicine,-In medicine, sclerosissclerosis (also spelled(also spelled
sclerosussclerosus ((GreekGreek "hard") is the stiffening"hard") is the stiffening
of a structure, usually caused by aof a structure, usually caused by a
replacement of the normal organ-specificreplacement of the normal organ-specific
tissue withtissue with connective tissueconnective tissue..

4. IntroductionIntroduction
SCLEROSING AGENTS:SCLEROSING AGENTS:
Definition:Definition:
are substances that cause a markedare substances that cause a marked
tissue irritation or thrombosis withtissue irritation or thrombosis with
subsequent local inflammation and tissuesubsequent local inflammation and tissue
necrosis resulting in fibrosis and tissuenecrosis resulting in fibrosis and tissue
contraction. e.g.contraction. e.g.
sodium morrhuate,sodium morrhuate,
Sodiumtetradecylsulfate(STS).Sodiumtetradecylsulfate(STS).

5. Sclerosing agents:Sclerosing agents:
are some injections which are given toare some injections which are given to
irritate and damage the wall of a veinirritate and damage the wall of a vein
resulting in its occlusion eg. Closing. Thisresulting in its occlusion eg. Closing. This
is done in the case of varicose veins,is done in the case of varicose veins,
haemorrhoids.haemorrhoids.
Varicose veinsVaricose veins : veins that have become: veins that have become
enlarged and twisted. The term commonlyenlarged and twisted. The term commonly
refers to the veins on the leg, althoughrefers to the veins on the leg, although
varicose veins can occur elsewhere.varicose veins can occur elsewhere.

6. varicose veinsvaricose veins

7. varicose veinsvaricose veins

9. SCLEROSING AGENTSSCLEROSING AGENTS
sodium morrhuate Injection:sodium morrhuate Injection:
-It is a sterile solution of the sodium salts of-It is a sterile solution of the sodium salts of
the fatty acids of Cod Liver Oil havingthe fatty acids of Cod Liver Oil having
50mg of sodium morhuate per ml.50mg of sodium morhuate per ml.
An antimicrobial agent (NMT 0.5%) andAn antimicrobial agent (NMT 0.5%) and
ethyl/ benzyl alcohol (NMT 3%) is usuallyethyl/ benzyl alcohol (NMT 3%) is usually
added.added.

10. is prepared by the saponification ofis prepared by the saponification of
selected Cod Liver Oils.selected Cod Liver Oils.
Morrhuate Sodium occurs as a pale-Morrhuate Sodium occurs as a pale-
yellowish, granular powder with a slightyellowish, granular powder with a slight
fishy odour and is soluble in water and infishy odour and is soluble in water and in
alcohol.alcohol.
Use: As sclerosing agent, for varicoseUse: As sclerosing agent, for varicose
veins.veins.

11. Sodium tetradecylsulfateSodium tetradecylsulfate(STS)(STS)
It isIt is 7-ethyl-2-methyl-4-undecanyl sulfate7-ethyl-2-methyl-4-undecanyl sulfate
sodium salt. Sotradecolsodium salt. Sotradecol
- is a sclerosant drug, used in the treatmentis a sclerosant drug, used in the treatment
of varicose and spider veins of the leg,of varicose and spider veins of the leg,
during the procedure of sclerotherapy.during the procedure of sclerotherapy.

12. Being a detergent based chemical, its‐Being a detergent based chemical, its‐
action is on the lipid molecules in the cellsaction is on the lipid molecules in the cells
of the vein wall, causing destruction of theof the vein wall, causing destruction of the
internal lining of the vein and eventualinternal lining of the vein and eventual
sclerosis of the vein.sclerosis of the vein.
It is used in concentrations ranging fromIt is used in concentrations ranging from
0.1%to3% for this purpose.0.1%to3% for this purpose.