BACKGROUND: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) results when the veins in the legs no longer pump blood back to the heart effectively. Microparticles (MPs) are small membrane vesicles released by several circulating and vascular cells upon activation or apoptosis. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the subpopulations of circulating endothelial (EMPs) and platelet microparticles (PMPs) in CVI, and to disclose their contribution in