[Metabolism of hyaluronic acid and extremity lymphedema].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible influence of the impairment of lymph fluid on the metabolism of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the lymphedematous skin tissue.


METHODS
Tissue fluid was collected in lymphedematous limbs and the contralateral healthy limbs of 39 patients and HA content was measured with radioimmunoassay. The protein contents were also measured.


RESULTS
The HA contents in interstitial fluid of lymphedematous limb were significantly (8 fold) higher than that of normal limb. The protein concentration in the tissue fluid did not show significant differences between lymphedema and those with normal tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
The result suggests blockage of regional draining lymphatics may impairs breakdown of HA and the stagnation of HA in the limb may exert a deleterious effect on the interstitium.
Liu
Ning-fei
NF
The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Plastic Surgery, Shanghai 200011, China.
Zhang
Lu-rong
LR
Li
Sheng-li
SL
Cao
Wei-gang
WG
Zhang
Di-sheng
DS
Cao
Yi-lin
YL
D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007866:Leg; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D006820:Hyaluronic Acid