Elephantiasis and Maintenance of Results Following Intensive Treatment

Abstract

Lymphoedema is a chronic clinical condition with no cure. However, novel therapy concepts developed in recent years aim to bring the affected limb within or close to the limits of normality. Elephantiasis is the most advanced stage of this condition, but the results of therapy can be maintained with continued treatment. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the continual reduction in Lymphoedema, Clinical Stage III, elephantiasis, after intensive treatment with the maintenance of therapy. A 42-year-old female patient reported a history of oedema in the groin region at 12 years of age, for which no cause was defined. At 17 years of age, the patient noticed swelling of the left ankle and sought a physician, who diagnosed lymphoedema. At the time, stage III lymphoedema (elephantiasis) was confirmed, body weight was 66.0 kg and the Body Mass Index (BMI) was 27.1 kg/m2 . Intensive treatment was performed. Body weight was reduced to 61.3 kg and the BMI was reduced to 25.2 kg/m2 . Bioimpedance analysis revealed reductions in fluid and volume to 5618 gm, which was a reduction of 2517 gm (47%). After three years, the patient was submitted to another intensive treatment, during which the volume was reduced to 3520 gm (40.2%). She was discharged to continue treatment at home, but with a volumetric difference of 784 gm in comparison to the unaffected limb. Patients with elephantiasis who are submitted to intensive treatment and maintain treatment at home can continue to experience a significant reduction in oedema, with decreases in both intracellular and extracellular water to within patterns of normality.

Keywords

• bioimpedance analysis
• diagnosis
• lymphoedema
• volume displacement