title: Chronic progressive lymphedema in draft horses.
abstract: Chronic progressive lymphedema is a disorder of many draft horse breeds that presents with progressive swelling of the distal portions of the legs. This is associated with scaling, marked dermal fibrosis, and the development of skin folds and nodules. There seems to be a genetic predisposition to altered elastin metabolism and impaired function of the lymphatic system in the distal extremities. Management is palliative and involves keeping the feathers clipped short, treating secondary infections, daily exercise and skin care, hydrotherapy, manual lymph drainage and compression bandaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 3313 Vet Med 3A, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Electronic address: vkaffolter@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Verena K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Affolter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Chorioptes bovis; Combined decongestive therapy; Compression bandages; Draft horses; Legs; Lymphedema