title: [Metabolism of hyaluronic acid and extremity lymphedema].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Plastic Surgery, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Ning-fei
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lu-rong
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Sheng-li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-gang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Di-sheng
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi-lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid