President Trump has been diagnosed with what the White House described Thursday as a “common” vein condition after the White House medical office examined him over concerns of swollen lower legs and bruising on his hands.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a note from his physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, with reporters after the president got checked out by the White House medical unit because Mr. Trump had noticed “mild swelling” in his lower legs in recent weeks.
She said the tests revealed the president has “chronic venous insufficiency.” The statement said it’s a “benign and common condition” in those over age 70. Mr. Trump is 79.
The memo, shared later by the White House from Dr. Barbabella, said the president “underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies. Bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency.”
“No signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness were identified,” the report said.
Lab results, including a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, coagulation profile, tests for blood clots and possible heart failure, were all “within normal limits,” the doctor said.
The report said the tests were done “in keeping with routine medical care and out of an abundance of caution.”
The Cleveland Clinic’s website says chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a form of venous disease “that occurs when veins in your legs are damaged. As a result, these veins can’t manage blood flow as well as they should, and it’s harder for blood in your legs to return to your heart. CVI causes blood to pool in your leg veins, leading to high pressure in those veins.”
The White House statement said there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease, and that the bruising on his hand is “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent hand shaking” and the use of aspirin, which he takes as part of his cardiovascular prevention regimen.
The doctor’s memo said bruising is a “well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy.”
Photographs of Mr. Trump attending the FIFA Club World Cup final soccer match last weekend depicted what appeared to be swollen ankles as he sat in a chair.
Recent photos of the president also showed bruising on his hands that he uses makeup to cover, leaving the back of his hand looking discolored.
Some people on social media have speculated that the true health condition of the president was being hidden, while others said it looked like something that resulted from medicine or an IV inserted in his hand.
Ms. Leavitt told reporters that “the president remains in excellent health.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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