Subjective assessment of pregnancy impact on primary lower limb lymphedema

To analyze subjective influence of pregnancy on lower limb lymphedema.

Cross-sectional study on 49 affected women was conducted in a single lymphology department between January 2002 and December 2006. All women were asked whether their lymphedema had worsened during pregnancy.

Mean age at lymphedema onset was 17 years, with no familial history of lymphedema. Lymphedema was unilateral for 30 women and bilateral for 19. Median age at the first delivery was 28 years. Eighteen women had only 1 pregnancy, 23 women had only 2, and 8 women had 3. For the first pregnancy, birth weight was 3.4 kg. Subjective lymphedema worsening was reported by 5 women after the first pregnancy compared to 44 women without worsening (P = .006) and after 10 (11%) of the 88 pregnancies (1 twin birth) involving 9 women. During the median 18 years since the first pregnancy, only a 14-year-old boy has developed bilateral lymphedema.

Pregnancy did not significantly exacerbate primary lower limb lymphedema.