Lymphedema: pathogenesis and novel therapies

JH Dayan, CL Ly, RP Kataru… - Annual review of …, 2018 - annualreviews.org
Annual review of medicine, 2018annualreviews.org
Lymphedema affects up to 1 in 6 patients who undergo treatment for a solid tumor in the
United States. Its prevalence has increased as more effective oncologic therapies have
improved patient survival, but there remains no definitive cure. Recent research has
elucidated new details in the pathogenesis of the disease and has demonstrated that it is
fundamentally an immunologic process that ultimately results in inflammation, fibroadipose
deposition, impaired lymphangiogenesis, and dysfunctional lymphatic pumping. These …
Lymphedema affects up to 1 in 6 patients who undergo treatment for a solid tumor in the United States. Its prevalence has increased as more effective oncologic therapies have improved patient survival, but there remains no definitive cure. Recent research has elucidated new details in the pathogenesis of the disease and has demonstrated that it is fundamentally an immunologic process that ultimately results in inflammation, fibroadipose deposition, impaired lymphangiogenesis, and dysfunctional lymphatic pumping. These findings have allowed for the development of novel medical and surgical therapies that may potentially alter the standard of care for a disease that has largely been treated by compression. This review seeks to provide an overview of the emerging therapies and how they can be utilized for effective management of lymphedema.
Annual Reviews