This volume is the logical continuation of the two previous proceedings summarised in "The Return of Blood to the Heart" and "New Advances in Norepinephrine and Veno Lymphatic Return", and is based on a symposium held in Cairo, Egypt, in March 1990. The book sums up the impact of the various factors on the return circulation to the heart that have received particular attention in the past three years. Firstly, studies are presented on the impact of oestrogen on the veins. From a pharmacological point of view the facilitatory role of oestrogen on adrenergic responses is fairly well established. Clinical studies included in this volume will attempt to achieve a clear overview in the clinical context of the interactions between the different hormonal systems and venous functions. Further accents in this meeting were on the lymphatic system, on efforts to correlate histological and biochemical alterations of the pathological venous wall, and on the microcirculation and the effects of its derangement on certain symptoms associated with venous disease.