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Upper limb lymphedema associated with polyarthritis of rheumatoid type
P D Kiely1, A E Joseph, P S Mortimer
1Department of Rheumatology, St. George's Hospital, London, England.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|June 1, 1994
Abstract
Objective:
To determine the cause of upper limb edema in 8 patients with peripheral polyarthritis of rheumatoid-type.
Methods:
Objective assessment of lymph function using quantitative lymphoscintigraphy.
Results:
Seven cases with either rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis were found to have impaired lymph drainage associated with edema. All cases shared a distal rheumatoid pattern of arthritis but showed no relation between severity of lymphatic impairment and either duration or severity of arthritis.
Conclusion:
Polyarthritis of rheumatoid-type may be associated with lymphedema due to impaired lymphatic function.