title: The Value of Using a SkinFibroMeter for Diagnosis and Assessment of Secondary Lymphedema and Associated Fibrosis of Lower Limb Skin.
abstract: Skin fibrosis is a clinically serious pathological process of secondary lymphedema (SLE). The detection of latent or incipient skin fibrosis, including early tissue changes, using sensitive diagnostic equipment is essential. The SkinFibroMeter has been used in skin care; however, its ability to assess skin fibrosis in patients with SLE of the lower limb has not been explored.
  
  
  
  In this study, 45 female patients with secondary unilateral lower limb LE and 15 healthy female volunteers were enrolled. The skin stiffness values of affected and healthy limbs were measured by using the SkinFibroMeter, and skin samples were assayed by Masson staining. The circumference and interstitial fluid of limbs were also measured and analyzed. Increasing skin stiffness with increasing severity of SLE of the lower limb and skin stiffness significantly positively correlated with stage of lower limb SLE.
  
  
  
  Our results demonstrate that the SkinFibroMeter is very sensitive and accurate for detecting skin fibrosis of edematous limb. Therefore, this new instrument is a promising prospect for diagnosis and assessment of skin fibrosis in patients with lower limb SLE.
authors.affiliation: Lymphology Centre of Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Lymphology Centre of Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .
authors.forename: Ziyou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Lymphology Centre of Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .
authors.forename: Jiajia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Lymphology Centre of Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Lymphology Centre of Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .
authors.forename: Linghua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Lymphology Centre of Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .
authors.forename: Ningfei
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D045604:Extracellular Fluid; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen
keywords: fibrosis; lymphedema; stiffness