ABNORMAL FIBRINOLYSIS: THE CAUSE OF LIPODERMATOSCLEROSIS OR "CHRONIC CELLULITIS" IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY LYMPHEDEMA

G Stewart, M Pattison, KG Burnand

Abstract


Blood fibrinolytic activity was measured in 20
patients with primary lymphedema, ten without and
ten with skin changes usually attributed to "chronic
cellulitis". The patients with abnormal skin showed
reduced fibrinolytic activity, a finding previously
described in patients with chronic venous disease and
lipodermatosclerosis. It is postulated that changes of
"chronic cellulitis" are identical to lipodermatosclerosis
and are produced by a similar
mechanism, namely reduced fibrinolysis.


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