Objective: To observe the apoptotic level alterations in the wall of different segments of great saphenous varicose vein. Methods: Twenty great saphenous varicose veins (observation group) and 12 normal great saphenous veins (control group) were collected, and the apoptosis in their upper, middle and lower segments were determined by TUNEL assay and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Results: In observation group, only scattered apoptotic cells were found in the venous walls (tunica intima and tunica media), which were almost uniformly distributed at the three segments, while there were considerably more apoptotic cells in the venous walls (tunica intima and tunica media) in control group, and the apoptosis was more evident in the upper segments than those of the lower segments. The quantitative analysis showed that the apoptotic rates in either the tunica intima or tunica media in observation group were significantly lower than those in their corresponding regions in control group (all P<0.05); statistical significances in apoptotic rate were found between some of the segments after intra-group comparison for each group (P<0.01 or P<0.05), but generally, the apoptotic rate was higher in the upper segment than that in the lower segment and higher in the tunica intima than that in the tunica media. Conclusion: In the wall of great saphenous varicose vein, the apoptotic level is decreased, and there was no apoptotic rate difference between segments in the normal great saphenous vein.