TY - JOUR AU - Wilson, Susan F. AU - Guarner, Jeannette AU - Valme, Alix L. AU - Louis-Charles, Jacky AU - Jones, Tara L. AU - Addiss, David G. T1 - Histopathologic Improvement with Lymphedema Management, Léogâne, Haiti T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2004 VL - 10 IS - 11 SP - 1938 SN - 1080-6059 AB - In countries where bancroftian filariasis is endemic, lymphedema of the leg is a public health problem, particularly for women, who are disproportionately affected. We investigated the effect of basic lymphedema management (hygiene, skin care, and lower limb movement and elevation) on the histologic features of lymphedema. A total of 118 skin-punch biopsies were collected from the legs of 91 patients enrolled in a lymphedema treatment clinic in Léogâne, Haiti. Follow-up biopsies were collected from 27 patients ≈12 months later. Keratinocyte hyperproliferation, condensed dermal collagen, and mononuclear perivascular infiltrate increased with lymphedema stage, which suggested progressive chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Follow-up biopsies showed reductions in perivascular mononuclear infiltrate in the superficial dermis (41% decrease in prevalence), perivascular fibrosis in the deep dermis (58% decrease), and periadnexal mononuclear infiltrate (53% decrease). These data suggest that the clinical improvement commonly observed with basic lymphedema management has a histologic basis. KW - Lymphatic filariasis KW - lymphedema KW - elephantiasis KW - histopathology KW - lymphedema management KW - limb care KW - women KW - Haiti DO - 10.3201/eid1011.040548 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/11/04-0548_article ER - End of Reference