COMBINED OPTO-ELECTRONIC PEROMETRY AND BIOIMPEDANCE TO MEASURE OBJECTIVELY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A NEW TREATMENT INTERVENTION FOR CHRONIC SECONDARY LEG LYMPHEDEMA

Abstract

Secondary lymphedema of the legs is acommon sequela ofpatients treated for cancerof the reproductive, gastrointestinal, urinarysystems and melanoma. From a clinical andresearch perspective it is of utmost importanceto use techniques that objectively quantify legvolume and fluid composition as an indicatorof lymphedema severity and response totreatment. Two techniques often used in boththe clinical and research setting are legperometry and multi-frequency bioimpedance.Although both techniques have beenextensively validated, this trial aimed to crosscorrelate both measurement techniques toascertain whether each or both could be usedreliably for measurement of leg lymphedema.These measurements were utilized throughouta clinical trial that assessed the effectivenessofa new home based treatment program in theform of the Sun Ancon Aerobic Exerciser®.This machine delivered both elevation andpassive exercise to the legs, with participantsusing the machine over a three week periodduring which time their leg volumes weremeasured using both perometry andbioimpedance. The results demonstrated thatleg volume measurements decreased usingboth perometry and bioimpedance. Thereduction in body extracellular fluid asmeasured by bioimpedance correlated wellwith a reduction in leg volume as measured byperometry. Bioimpedance also recorded areduction in weight, which was correlated withthe reduction in leg volume as measured byperometry. This trial confirms that perometryand bioimpedance were both effective inindependently showing a reduction in leglymphedema using the Aerobic Exercisertherapy, and that both methods can be reliablyused to measure and follow leg lymphedema.