Lymphovenous Canada: Other research information

Clinical research on homeopathic forms of treatment for lymphedema:

Lymphdiaral - London Ontario study on this homeopathic preparation touted as a treatment for lymphedema

Horse chestnut seed extract - The University of Wisconsin studies its effectiveness in treating lymphedema

Pycnogenol - U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)holds clinical trials on this bark extract for the treatment of lymphedema of the arm in breast cancer survivors

Selenium - Toronto's University Health Network tests the use of selenium in treating breast cancer related lymphedema

Understanding the differences between Lymphedema and Lipedema:

Strobenreuther, Roman H. Dept. of Lymphangiology, Hospital of Mooseburg, Moosberg, Germany. (2000) The Spectrum of Lipedema. Presentation made at the National Lymphedema Network conference in Florida, 2000.

Harwood CA, Bull RH, Evans J, Mortimer PS (1996) Lymphatic and venous function in lipoedema. British Journal of Dermatology 134: 1-6

Allen EV, Hines EA (1940 March) Lipedema of the legs: a syndrome characterised by fat legs and orthostatic edema. Staff Meetings of the Mayo Clinic: Vascular Clinics X

Coumarin (5,6-benzo-pyrone) and its effectiveness in treating lymphedema:

Coumarin (a benzopyrone) and liver toxicity: Seemingly unpredictable instances of liver toxicity and no clear evidence of effectiveness have led to the suspension of coumarin, an anti-lymphedema drug in Australia, France, Belgium and Canada.
Dangerous side effects: Australia cancels the registration of the Lodema brand of Coumarin (5,6-benzo-[alpha]-pyrone) tablets; the New England Journal of Medicine publishes a study which suggests coumarin is not effective in treating lymphedema; the Canadian situation.

Other Information of Interest:

Adjuvant Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy in Node-Positive Premenopausal Women with Breast Cancer Vol. 337:956-962, No. 14, 1997, New England Journal of Medicine. Joseph Ragaz et al, the Department of Medical Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, 1997. The study reported on the increased rates of survival in women who receive radiation and chemotherapy - and also tracked the incidence of lymphedema in these women.
Wolbachia endosymbiotic bacteria of filarial nematodes. A new insight into disease pathogenesis and control: Taylor MJ, Division of Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK published in Arch Med Res 2002 Jul-Aug;33(4):422-4. A new approach to the treatment of filariasis. Taylor MJ, Hoerauf A.Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK. published in Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2001 Dec;14(6):717-8. These two research papers suggest that antibiotics can be effective in fighting lymphatic filariasis.
Two researchers look at standardizing measurements to improve data from clinical studies on the effectiveness of treatment options
Challenging the Myth of Exercise-Induced Lymphedema Following Breast Cancer: A series of case reports, a Vancouver study published in June 2000 in the Journal of Surgical Oncology.
Physical Therapist Management of Lymphedema Following Treatment for Breast Cancer: a critical review of its effectiveness, Physical Therapy, Vol. 78, No. 12, Dec. 1998. Canadian research study finds compression garments alone effective in reducing limb size for breast cancer survivors.
Pain in post breast cancer lymphedema. Dr. Michael Brennan discusses how persons with lymphedema can experience pain and what to do about it.
Edema Volume, Not Timing, Is the Key to Success in Lymphedema Treatment. An Albuquerque, New Mexico study suggests that the key to predicting successful lymphedema treatment is the initial volume of the edema in the tissues regardless of whether the intervention is early or late. (Source: The American Journal of Surgery, Vol. 178, Oct. 1999, 311-315.)

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Last revised Nov. 30, 2007.