TY - JOUR AU - Ichinose, Yuko; Yasunaga, Yoshichika; Yuzuriha, Shunsuke TI - Rheumatoid Lymphedema Successfully Treated with Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis: A Case Report SN - 2377-0813 SN - 2377-0821 PY - 2019 JO - J Reconstr Microsurg Open JF - Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery Open LA - EN VL - 04 IS - 01 SP - e24 EP - e28 DA - 2019/05/08 KW - rheumatoid arthritis KW - lymphedema KW - lymphaticovenular anastomosis AB - Background A 76-year-old woman presented with rheumatoid lymphedema (RL) distal to the left elbow after 20 years of affliction with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the RA was controlled by medication, the patient could not receive full-scale compression therapy for her edema with a medium-pressure compression sleeve (pressure: 20–25 mm Hg) due to hand dysfunction caused by long-term RA.Methods Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) was performed after compression therapy with a low-pressure sleeve (14–18 mm Hg) proved ineffective for edema relief. Two anastomoses were created in a side-to-end fashion at the cubital fossa.Results The edema improved rapidly after LVA and was maintained with a low-pressure compression sleeve.Conclusion LVA represents a treatment option for remaining RL in RA treatment. As some RL patients are ineligible for full-scale compression therapy due to hand dysfunction caused by RA, LVA may help to reduce RL and enable edema management using a low-pressure compression garment without concern for hand dysfunction. PB - Thieme Medical Publishers DO - 10.1055/s-0039-1688763 UR - http://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0039-1688763 ER -