Relationship Between Lymphedema and Arteriosclerosis: Higher Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) in Lymphedematous Limbs.

BACKGROUND

Arteriosclerosis is one of the most important public health issues because it is very common in developed countries and its sequelae are lethal. Lymphatic vessel insufficiency has been reported to be associated with atherogenesis. Lymphedema seems to affect progression of arteriosclerosis, but no clinical study has been reported.

METHODS

Forty-eight limbs of 24 female patients with pelvic cancer-related lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) were evaluated. Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), an indirect estimate of the arterial stiffness, was measured in each limb. Cardio-ankle vascular index was compared according to known arteriosclerosis risk factors including age (younger than 65 years vs 65 years), body mass index (BMI; <25 vs 25 kg/m), hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia (HL), and smoking, as well as according to LEL-related factors including duration of LEL (<5 years vs 5 years), pelvic irradiation, leg cellulitis, LEL index (<250 vs 250), and leg dermal backflow (LDB) stage (LDB stage 0/I vs LDB stage II/III/IV/V) using univariable analyses and multivariable analysis.

RESULTS

Univariable analyses revealed statistically significant differences in CAVI between lower BMI and higher BMI [7.19 (0.75) vs 8.36 (1.24), P < 0.01], HT (-) and HT (+) [7.25 (0.81) vs 8.17 (1.29), P < 0.01], HL (-) and HL (+) [7.19 (0.74) vs 8.06 (1.27), P < 0.01], and lower LDB stage and higher LDB stage [6.87 (0.65) vs 7.76 (1.05), P < 0.01]. Multivariable analysis revealed statistically significant differences in CAVI between lower BMI and higher BMI (P < 0.01), shorter duration of LEL and longer duration of LEL [7.21 (1.04) vs 7.71 (0.97), P = 0.04], and lower LDB stage and higher LDB stage (P = 0.04)

CONCLUSIONS

Higher BMI, longer duration of LEL, and higher LDB stage were independent factors associated with higher CAVI in pelvic cancer-related LEL.