Volume 10, Number 11—November 2004
Research
Histopathologic Improvement with Lymphedema Management, Léogâne, Haiti
Susan F. Wilson*, Jeannette Guarner*, Alix L. Valme†, Jacky Louis-Charles†, Tara L. Jones*, and David G. Addiss*
Table 2
Number and percentage of initial skin biopsy specimens in which histopathologic features were detected, by stage of lymphedema, Léogâne, Haiti
| Location in skin | Histopathologic characteristic | Control (N = 26) n (%) | Lymphedema |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 (N = 12) n (%) | Stage 2 (N = 60) n (%) | Stage 3 (N = 20) n (%) | |||
| Epidermis | Hyperkeratosis | 4 (15) | 5 (42) | 23 (38)a | 16 (80)b |
| Hypergranulosis | 0 (0) | 1 (8) | 5 (8) | 4 (20)a | |
| Acanthosis | 0 (0) | 3 (25)a | 11 (18)a | 6 (30)c | |
| Superficial dermis | Fibrolamellar hyperplasia | 5 (19) | 6 (50) | 25 (42)a | 11 (55)a |
| Condensed collagen | 0 (0) | 1 (8) | 18 (30)c | 7 (35)c | |
| Perivascular fibrosis | 0 (0) | 1 (8) | 6 (10) | 3 (15) | |
| Perivascular infiltrate | |||||
| Acute | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (3) | 0 (0) | |
| Chronic | 11 (42) | 8 (67) | 46 (77)c | 19 (95)b | |
| Pronounced intensity | 1 (4) | 2 (17) | 11 (18) | 7 (35)c | |
| Presence of plasma cells | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 9 (15)a | 6 (30)c | |
| Deep dermis | Perivascular fibrosis | 3 (11) | 1 (8) | 16 (27) | 8 (40)a |
| Perivascular infiltrate | |||||
| Acute | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| Chronic | 12 (46) | 6 (50) | 54 (90)b | 19 (95)b | |
| Pronounced intensity | 1 (4) | 3 (25) | 20 (33)c | 11 (55)b | |
| Presence of plasma cells | 1 (4) | 7 (58)b | 37 (62)b | 15 (75)b | |
| Periadnexal infiltrate | |||||
| Acute | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| Chronic | 4 (15) | 4 (33) | 36 (60)b | 11 (55)c | |
| Pronounced intensity | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 10 (17)a | 3 (15) | |
| Subcutaneous tissue | Infiltrate in fibrous septa | ||||
| Acute | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| Chronic | 1 (4) | 3 (25) | 19 (32)c | 9 (45)c | |
| Pronounced intensity | 1 (4) | 3 (25) | 5 (8) | 3 (15) | |
ap < 0.05 (compared to control leg biopsy specimens).
bp < 0.001 (compared to control leg biopsy specimens).
cp < 0.01 (compared to control leg biopsy specimens).
