beta-escin and Lymphangitis

Lymphoedema of the upper limb is the most serious and most crippling complication of mastectomy. An account is given of the factors possibly responsible, and a classification of the different forms is proposed. When fibrosis has set in, treatment is followed by very disappointing results, being at best able to bring about a partial, but transitory reduction in limb volume and consistency. Reference is also made to results obtained in 70 cases with two substances, 1-thyroxine and escine (somatoline), applied by massotherapy in postural drainage, ionophoresis, and pressotherapy, according to the requirements of each case. The results were distinctly satisfactory, though the outstanding fact was the maintenance of the response throughout many follow-up controls. It is felt, therefore, that somatoline can be usefully given in cyclic form, both in cases treated in an early stage, and also in all patients were lymphoedema is a likely risk after mastectomy.

Topics: Arm; Drainage; Escin; Female; Humans; Iontophoresis; Lymphangitis; Lymphedema; Massage; Mastectomy; Obesity; Posture; Saponins; Thyroxine

Two personal cases of Non venereal Lymphangitis of the Penis are presented in 23 and 28 men, and 38 cases from the literature are reviewed. This benign self-limiting condition is not too well known among dermatologists and urologists. The clinical changes, in particular noted by palpation are characteristic: painless firm cartilaginous cord freely movable behind the corona of glans penis in the coronary sulcus. The inguinal lymph nodes are not involved. The microscopic features in one of our patients demonstrated that the lesion results from cystic dilatation of secondary organization of the thrombus. The etiology is unknown. We favour the mecanical trauma as an important factor based on excessive sexual activity of the patients.

Topics: Adult; Escin; Hesperidin; Humans; Lymphangitis; Male; Penile Diseases; Peptide Hydrolases; Sexual Behavior