Is Lymphedema Considered Inflamation???

Katiejane

 Maybe some of the experts on here can tell me if LE is considered to be a chronic inflammatory condition? I had a blood draw for CRP levels (this checks for a protein which is used to indicate who is more likely to experience cardiac/stroke issues in the future.) Of course, any internal inflammation can cause the levels to be elevated so how accurate would it be anyway? Your cholesterol levels are figured into the overall picture as well. Just needing some feedback here.

Thanks! katiejane    P.S. I had a scope on my knee 2 weeks ago and my levels are elevated!

Binney4

KatieJane, yes, lymphedema is an inflammatory condition, but I don't have any idea how that would show up in the tests you mention. In lymphedema the stagnating lymph fluid contains large protein molecules which are irratating to the tissue and cause an inflammatory response. Both fibrosis formation and  fat deposition beneath the skin are responses to the inflammation.

And then I have also heard it said that lymphedema develops as a result of inflammation from other causes (trauma, surgery, radiation, parasites).

But since all of this has only begun to be understood about lymphedema in recent years, there's not a whole lot of research about it that would help explain what your tests may be showing.

My understanding is that because stagnant lymph fluid causes inflammation, well controlled lymphedema is less likely to cause problems than poorly controled swelling.

Hmmmm. That wasn't much help, was it? Hopefully someone will come along with a better understanding of the inflammatory process and explain it in more detail. Sorry!

Let us know what you discover -- hope it's all good news!
Binney

kira66715

KatieJean, I once heard a lecture from the MD in Boston who developed the hs-CRP test. At the time, about 7-8 years ago, he knew it was a risk for heart disease, but had no real therapeutic option on how to lower it. It does seem to possibly go down with aspirin and statin drugs, but to my knowledge there is no drug that directly addressed a high hs-CRP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-reactive_protein

Inflammation: it's one of those things that I can never get straight, there are all this inflammatory markers: cytokinenes, leukotrienes--all I know is that many diseases are getting tied to chronic inflammation.

There was a time that they tried low dose macrolides (the erythromycin drugs) as they are anti-inflammatory, for heart disease, but it didn't pan out. It has panned out in chronic sinus and lung infections.

http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/125/2_suppl/52S.full?ck=nck

Stanley Rockson at Stanford has done research on rats' tails and can cause LE, and treat it with ketoprofen. He currently has a study to see if a drug like ketoprofen can help LE.

And, as Binney wrote, stagnant lymph fluid causes inflammation, and all sorts of cellular changes associated with it.

There are "alternative" doctors like Andrew Weill who promote anti-inflammatory diets--low in red meats, carbs.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02012/anti-inflammatory-diet

I do know that fish oil is helpful.

I would imagine that inflammation is not a static condition: when you have an acute insult, like a surgery, your body musters up an inflammatory response.

When we get colds, it's the inflammatory immune response that makes us miserable--the one study I saw in NE Journal, said the only help for this was old fashioned anti-histamines like benadryl and NSAID's like motrin.

Don't know if I answered the question, but I hope it helps.

Kira

Katiejane

  Binney and Kira,  Thank you for responding!  I know surgery definitely causes an inflammatory response and always had this in the back of my mind when I was told of the increased CRP level. I also consider LE a chronic state of inflammation but didn't know if I was off base. I truly appreciate your input! I'll be speaking to my Doc next week(she's on vacation) and will let you all know if she has any input!     Thanks again!  Katiejane

marijen

bump