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Lymphedema and Erysipelas

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Vascular Diseases for the Non-Specialist

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Abstract

Lymphedema is the protein-enriched liquid accumulation in the interstitial spaces, due to changes in the lymphatic content, transport deficiency, or failure of extralymphatic proteolysis. It is classified as primary if it is of unknown cause, or secondary or acquired lymphedema. The diagnosis is based on physical examination associated with a careful history. The treatment of the lymphedema should be multidisciplinary and aims to reduce swelling and to prevent its progression. Erysipelas is a skin and mucosal infection caused by the Streptococcus pyogenes beta-hemolytic group A of Lancefield classification. It is a common condition in clinical daily practice and the most frequent among all lymphangitis. Treatment includes antibiotics, symptomatic medications, and care of skin lesions. Lymphedema is a common complication of erysipelas since the lymph vessels can suffer from fibrosis process. Once established the lymphedema, it predisposes to new infection, given the richness of the protein edema, forming a vicious cycle.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital Universitário Risoleta Tolentino Neves, Rua das Gabirobas, 01 Vila Clóris, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31744012, Brazil

    Renata de Moura Vergara M.D.

  2. Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Professor Alfredo Balena, 190 Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130100, Brazil

    Renata de Moura Vergara M.D.

  3. Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Professor Alfredo Balena, 110 Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Rafael Henrique Rodrigues Costa M.D.

  4. Department of Surgery, Hospital Governador Israel Pinheiro, Instituto de Previdência dos Servidores do Estado de Minas Gerais, Alameda Ezequiel Dias, 225 Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130-110, Brazil

    Isabel Cristina de Oliveira Pinto M.D.

  5. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Professor Alfredo Balena, 190. Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130-100, Brazil

    Jéssica Elvira Pereira Machado M.D. & Júlia Castro Damásio Ferreira M.D.

Authors
  1. Renata de Moura Vergara M.D.
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  2. Rafael Henrique Rodrigues Costa M.D.
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  3. Isabel Cristina de Oliveira Pinto M.D.
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  4. Jéssica Elvira Pereira Machado M.D.
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  5. Júlia Castro Damásio Ferreira M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Renata de Moura Vergara M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Tulio Pinho Navarro

  2. Yale Univ School Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Alan Dardik

  3. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Daniela Junqueira

  4. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizone, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Ligia Cisneros

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de Moura Vergara, R., Costa, R.H.R., de Oliveira Pinto, I.C., Machado, J.E.P., Ferreira, J.C.D. (2017). Lymphedema and Erysipelas. In: Navarro, T., Dardik, A., Junqueira, D., Cisneros, L. (eds) Vascular Diseases for the Non-Specialist. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46059-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46059-8_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-46057-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-46059-8

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