Welcome to Lymphovenous Canada

View a videoclip of the launch of the Hospital for Sick Children and LAO Big Book for Kids Outreach Program (left)

 

 

• Alberta boy gets support from the community for surgery to correct lymphatic malformation
  
• Early physiotherapy could be effective in preventing BC-related lymphedema
• Manitoba advocate launches fact-finding mission
• Meds that cause or worsen edema
• Node transplant may address lymphedema swelling
• 2-year American research study looks at treatment costs of BC-related lymphedema
• Research offers insights on why some lymphedema patients may get repeated infections
• Extremity pumps can play a useful role in treating lymphedema

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TO VIEW STUDIES ON POTENTIAL DRUGS TO TREAT LYMPHEDEMA

University of Pittsburgh uncovers a new genetic cause for primary lymphedema

A team of scientists at the University of Pittsburgh has discovered another genetic piece of the puzzle in the cause of primary lymphedema: mutations in a gap junction protein (Connexin 47). The research is based on findings from the University's Lymphedema Family Study. Dr. Finegold, professor of human genetics at the University and principle investigator of the Lymphedema Family Study, believes research on this protein could lead ultimately to targeting the gene with drugs to improve its function. Information on his team's findings can be found in: "GJC2 Missense Mutations Cause Human Lymphedema", The American Journal of Human Genetics (2010), do:10.1016/rajah, and in the June 2010 Lymphatic Research Foundation's le-newsletter (see contact information below).

Six classes of drugs under study to treat lymphedema using mouse model

Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have created a mouse model with lymphedema which will help researchers better understand lymphedema. Using their animal model they found that lymphedema is characterized not just by the presence of swelling, but by a profound, accompanying inflammation. This finding suggests drug therapies could one day be used to treat this disease.

"Ten million people in the United States have lymphedema. It's heartbreaking that the disease goes unacknowledged or unrecognized because doctors simply have no treatment to offer," saRock sonley Rockson, MD, associate professor of medicine (cardiovascular) and senior author of the study. "This study opens the door to the likelihood of effective therapies."

Rockson notes that current treatment options are temporary and provide little relief. "It's like an iron lung for polio - it works, but it is certainly no way to live." His team is now looking at six classes of drugs for study, one of which has already been tested. (Source: Genetic Engineering News, July 17, 2006; Lymphatic Research Foundation)

For more information on the Lymphatic Research Foundation visit their web site at: www.lymphaticresearch.org/.