# CEAP 2020 — CEAP 2020 classification of chronic venous disorders

> Per-limb Clinical-Etiologic-Anatomic-Pathophysiologic description of lower-extremity chronic venous disorders; the C axis is descriptive and is not a linear severity score.

**Situação:** vigente · **Órgão:** Vascular · **Órgão emissor:** American Venous Forum · **Versão:** 2020 · **Ano:** 2020

> ⚠️ Uma versão mais nova pode existir (em revisão).

## Procedência e vigência
- Família: léxico
- Tipo de lógica: flat
- Modalidade: Clinical, US
- Fonte primária: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075
- Última verificação: 2026-07-24
- Última checagem: 2026-08-12

## Lógica de decisão
Classify each limb independently. Keep the complete CEAP tuple when the evidence supports it; never turn the ordered C labels into a numeric severity score or infer E/A/P from appearance alone.

## Categorias

| Código | Rótulo | Critérios | Conduta | Risco | Localizador | Verificado |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C0 | C0, no visible or palpable signs | No visible or palpable signs of venous disease in the classified lower extremity. C0 may still be suffixed s when symptoms attributable to venous disease are present or a when they are absent. | Do not equate C0 with normal venous hemodynamics. If the limb is symptomatic, complete the separate E, A and P assessment as clinically indicated; the C0 label itself supplies no treatment recommendation. | C0 is a descriptive examination finding, not a zero-risk category. It does not quantify future progression or exclude reflux, obstruction, or another venous cause of symptoms. | Lurie et al. 2020 CEAP update, DOI 10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075, Table III (C0) and Clinical working-group discussion item 1 (C0s can have reflux/obstruction or no identified venous pathology). | ✓ |
| C1 | C1, telangiectasias or reticular veins | Telangiectasias or reticular veins in the classified limb. The 2020 task force retained them together as C1 rather than creating separate C1 subclasses. | Use C1 as a clinical descriptor and add symptom status plus E/A/P findings when known. Do not infer a target vein, reflux, obstruction, or need for intervention from C1 alone. | C1 carries no calibrated probability of progression, ulceration, or treatment benefit. The C ordering is not a linear severity or natural-history scale. | Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C1) and Other Proposed Revisions (separate telangiectasia and reticular-vein subclasses were considered but not adopted). | ✓ |
| C2 | C2, varicose veins | Varicose veins in the classified limb without using the recurrence modifier. Vein diameter is not part of the 2020 CEAP C category, and origin or responsible venous segment must be described through E/A/P rather than inferred from C2. | Record s or a and complete etiology, anatomy and pathophysiology before management decisions. C2 does not identify which vein should be treated and is not itself an indication for a procedure. | C2 describes current varicose veins but supplies no patient-specific probability of progression, recurrence, thrombosis, ulceration, or response to treatment. | Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C2), Clinical working-group discussion items 2-3 (origin and diameter are outside C), and conclusion that CEAP is descriptive rather than a severity/outcome measure. | ✓ |
| C2r | C2r, recurrent varicose veins | Recurrent varicose veins after prior treatment. The 2020 recurrence definition includes true recurrence, residual veins, and new varicose veins arising from disease progression after treatment. | Preserve the r modifier and document the prior intervention, distribution, etiology, anatomy, and reflux or obstruction. Recurrence can alter evaluation and strategy, but C2r alone does not select another procedure. | C2r distinguishes a potentially different natural history from untreated C2, but CEAP provides no numeric probability of further recurrence, complication, or treatment success. | Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C2r) and Clinical revision subsection 'Subscript for C2 and C6 classes recurrent (r) disease' (scope includes true recurrence, residual veins, and progression after prior treatment). | ✓ |
| C3 | C3, edema | Edema attributable to chronic venous disease in the classified limb. C3 does not grade the extent, regional distribution, firmness, or phlebolymphedema component. | Document laterality, symptom status, distribution, and the separate E/A/P findings; evaluate competing causes of edema rather than assigning venous etiology from swelling alone. CEAP C3 does not prescribe treatment. | C3 is a broad descriptive class and has no per-limb event probability. It must not be used alone to predict ulceration, response, or need for intervention. | Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C3) and Clinical working-group discussion item 4 (C3 does not encode degree, distribution, induration, or phlebolymphedema). | ✓ |
| C4a | C4a, pigmentation or eczema | Pigmentation or eczema attributable to chronic venous disease in the classified limb. Report coexisting C4b or C4c findings separately in advanced CEAP. | Treat C4a as a skin-manifestation descriptor and complete the venous E/A/P assessment. The label does not identify a responsible segment or mandate a particular intervention. | C4a denotes skin change associated with chronic venous disease but is not a calibrated ulcer-risk or outcome score and does not imply inevitable progression. | Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C4a) and Clinical revision text retaining pigmentation or eczema as C4a. | ✓ |
| C4b | C4b, lipodermatosclerosis or atrophie blanche | Lipodermatosclerosis or atrophie blanche attributable to chronic venous disease in the classified limb. These findings remain grouped as C4b in the 2020 revision. | Document the specific skin finding, s or a status, and complete E/A/P characterization. C4b alone does not determine anatomy, pathophysiology, urgency, or treatment choice. | C4b represents advanced skin and subcutaneous-tissue change, but CEAP supplies no individual ulcer probability or treatment-outcome estimate for this class. | Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C4b) and Clinical revision text retaining lipodermatosclerosis or atrophie blanche as C4b. | ✓ |
| C4c | C4c, corona phlebectatica | Corona phlebectatica: a fan-shaped pattern of numerous small intradermal veins on the medial or lateral ankle and foot, also called malleolar or ankle flare. It is a distinct C4 subclass in CEAP 2020 rather than C1. | Report C4c explicitly, retain any other C manifestations in advanced CEAP, and complete E/A/P characterization. Its presence justifies accurate venous assessment but does not by itself select treatment. | The task force placed corona phlebectatica in C4 because it is associated with advanced venous disease and ulcer development; this remains a population association, not an individual numeric forecast. | Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C4c) and Clinical revision subsection 'Addition of corona phlebectatica to the C4 class' (definition, rationale, and association with ulcer development). | ✓ |
| C5 | C5, healed venous ulcer | Healed venous ulcer in the classified limb, with no currently active venous ulcer. The 2020 C axis has no C5r code; preserve relevant ulcer history separately. | Document ulcer site and history, symptom status, and full E/A/P findings when available. C5 describes the current healed state and does not determine prevention, surveillance, or intervention by itself. | Prior ulceration is clinically important, but CEAP C5 does not provide a calibrated probability of recurrence or benefit from a specific treatment. | Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C5 healed) and Table III recurrence structure, in which r is defined only for C2 and C6. | ✓ |
| C6 | C6, active venous ulcer | Active venous ulcer in the classified limb without the recurrence modifier. If an active ulcer is known to have recurred after prior healing or treatment, use C6r instead. | Report the active ulcer and complete wound, clinical, etiologic, anatomic, and pathophysiologic assessment. C6 communicates active ulceration but does not replace wound evaluation or prescribe a venous intervention. | C6 identifies active ulcer disease but does not quantify healing time, recurrence, infection, limb risk, or treatment response for an individual patient. | Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C6 active venous ulcer) and recurrence subsection distinguishing C6r. | ✓ |
| C6r | C6r, recurrent active venous ulcer | Recurrent active venous ulcer in the classified limb. Apply r only when recurrence is established; an active ulcer with unknown prior healing or treatment history should not be upgraded automatically to C6r. | Preserve recurrence history and complete the wound plus E/A/P description, including the veins associated with reflux or obstruction. C6r can affect clinical strategy but does not select treatment on its own. | C6r distinguishes recurrent from first-recorded active ulceration and may reflect a different natural history, but it is not a calibrated recurrence, healing, or complication score. | Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C6r) and Clinical revision subsection 'Subscript for C2 and C6 classes recurrent (r) disease.' | ✓ |

### Citações por categoria
- **C0**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020 CEAP update, DOI 10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075, Table III (C0) and Clinical working-group discussion item 1 (C0s can have reflux/obstruction or no identified venous pathology).
- **C1**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C1) and Other Proposed Revisions (separate telangiectasia and reticular-vein subclasses were considered but not adopted).
- **C2**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C2), Clinical working-group discussion items 2-3 (origin and diameter are outside C), and conclusion that CEAP is descriptive rather than a severity/outcome measure.
- **C2r**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C2r) and Clinical revision subsection 'Subscript for C2 and C6 classes recurrent (r) disease' (scope includes true recurrence, residual veins, and progression after prior treatment).
- **C3**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C3) and Clinical working-group discussion item 4 (C3 does not encode degree, distribution, induration, or phlebolymphedema).
- **C4a**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C4a) and Clinical revision text retaining pigmentation or eczema as C4a.
- **C4b**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C4b) and Clinical revision text retaining lipodermatosclerosis or atrophie blanche as C4b.
- **C4c**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C4c) and Clinical revision subsection 'Addition of corona phlebectatica to the C4 class' (definition, rationale, and association with ulcer development).
- **C5**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C5 healed) and Table III recurrence structure, in which r is defined only for C2 and C6.
- **C6**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C6 active venous ulcer) and recurrence subsection distinguishing C6r.
- **C6r**: Lurie F, Passman M, Meisner M, et al.. The 2020 update of the CEAP classification system and reporting standards (2020) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvsv.2019.12.075 · Lurie et al. 2020, Table III (C6r) and Clinical revision subsection 'Subscript for C2 and C6 classes recurrent (r) disease.'

## Histórico de versões

| Data | Evento | Detalhe | Situação |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-07-30 | revised | Monitored source changed (content_hash). Detected automatically; awaiting reviewer confirmation. | needs_review |
| 2026-07-29 | revised | Monitored source changed (content_hash). Detected automatically; awaiting reviewer confirmation. | needs_review |
| 2026-07-28 | revised | Monitored source changed (content_hash). Detected automatically; awaiting reviewer confirmation. | needs_review |
| 2026-07-25 | revised | Monitored source changed (content_hash). Detected automatically; awaiting reviewer confirmation. | needs_review |
| 2020-01-01 | revised | CEAP classification 2020 update and reporting standards. | confirmed |


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