Distribution of Extracellular Fluid in Legs with Venous Edema and Lymphedema.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the specific fluid distribution pattern in legs with lymphedema (LE) in comparison to normal legs and legs with venous edema (VE) using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).

METHODS AND RESULTS: BIA was performed in 47 patients with lymphedema (LE; 63 legs), 33 patients with venous edema (VE; 60 legs), and 33 normal subjects (N; 66 legs). The ratio of intracellular fluid (ICF) resistance (Ri) to extracellular fluid (ECF) resistance (Re) of a whole leg normalized to the right arm (Ri/Re leg), a surrogate parameter for ECF/ICF, and the Ri/Re of the thigh and calf without normalization (Ri/Re thigh, Ri/Re calf, respectively) were obtained. Increases in Ri/Re leg (N 2.5 ± 0.7, VE 3.9 ± 3.7, LE 3.7 ± 1.5), Ri/Re thigh (N 1.8 ± 0.5, VE 3.2 ± 3.8, LE 3.8 ± 1.9), and Ri/Re calf (N 2.6 ± 0.6, VE 4.6 ± 1.7, LE 4.4 ± 2.2) were confirmed in VE and LE compared to normal subjects. However, the ratios of Ri/Re calf to Ri/Re thigh in normal subjects and those with untreated VE/LE were all ∼1.5 (N 1.5 ± 0.3, VE 1.5 ± 0.7, LE 1.6 ± 0.7).

CONCLUSIONS: Fluid content was increased in legs with VE and LE compared to normal subjects, while the mode of gravitational fluid distribution was similar among all legs. Thus, no specific finding for LE was confirmed.