Arteriovenous shunts in peripheral lymphedema: hemodynamic features and isotopic visualization.
The hemodynamic characteristics of peripheral lymphedema were studied in 28 patients with uni- or bilateral leg swelling. Leg blood flow was measured by venous isotope dilution (a technique for nutritive--capillary blood flow) and arteriovenous shunts were visualized by perfusion scintigraphy using radiolabelled macroaggregated albumin. Arteriovenous communications were uniformly detected in lymphedema, with a calculated "shunt flow" of 200 to 600 ml/min. Other features in the lymphedematous leg included an elevated limb blood flow rate and narrowed arteriovenous oxygen difference.
D000418:Albumins; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013667:Technetium
D000418:Albumins; D013667:Technetium