Laser-doppler evaluation in peripheral lymphedema

The pathophysiological conditions of skin blood flow in the lymphedematous limb play an important role in the trophism of superficial layers of the skin, in terms of prevention of one of the most common complications of peripheral lymphedema, ie, recurrent erysipelas. The treatment of choice for prevention of relapsing limb infections is long-term therapy with intramuscular penicillin. However, erysipelas usually recurs when the treatment is stopped. This is due to the reduction in skin blood flow in peripheral lymphedema, which causes a situation of decreased peripheral blood perfusion and skin oxygenation, leading to a sort of local ischemia. In the literature, we have found few data regarding this particular aspect of the pathophysiological reasons for the recurrence of infections. This is why we evaluated skin blood flow in peripheral lymphedema by laser-Doppler, before and after treating lymphedemas by means of microsurgical lymphatic drainage.