Active clinical trials for "Lymphedema"

Breast cancer-related lymphedema is one of the most common and feared consequences of breast cancer treatment. Currently, lymphedema is primarily addressed conservatively with compression garments. Regenerative medicine may provide a new treatment option for lymphedema. This Phase 3 trial will examine the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of freshly isolated adipose-derived stromal cells administered in conjunction with a fat grafting procedure to the affected axillary region.

The treatment of lymphoedema and its associated complications represent a considerable drain on increasingly limited NHS resources. Intermittent pneumatic compression, specifically the LymphAssist (Huntleigh Healthcare), represents an innovative treatment for this condition but the efficacy of this device needs to be investigated via robust clinical research.

BACKGROUND Breast cancer-related lymphedema is a severe and life-long side-effect to breast cancer treatment. The condition increases the risk of infections and decreases health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in patients. No prophylactic or curative treatment is currently available for this condition. CD4+-cells plays a critical role in the development of lymphedema. The cells facilitate inflammation and fibrosis formation in the subcutaneous tissue which inhibits lymphatic regeneration. Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory macrolide that targets the CD4+-cells. Tacrolimus as treatment of lymphedema has already shown promising results in animal studies. Tacrolimus has the potential to cure an otherwise uncurable and life-long side-effect of BC and will therefore benefit a large number of patients who suffers from BCRL. AIM To assess the effect of Tacrolimus treatment on breast cancer-related lymphedema METHOD Study design A pilot study with a planned inclusion of 20 patients with a 12 month follow-up period. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of tacrolimus treatment on lymphedema and HR-QOL. Results are attained from objective measures and questionnaires. The patients will be seen at a consultation prior to the treatment start and then 3 times hereafter (at 3, 6 and 12 months) as follow up consultations where effect of treatment is evaluated. Primary endpoint: - Arm volume measured with water displacement test. Secondary endpoints: Arm volume measured with measuring tape and calculated with volume of a cone formula Patient-reported outcome measured through the Danish versions of , LYMPH-ICF, DASH and SF-36 questionnaires Bioimpedance Lymphangiography Primary- and secondary endpoint data will be collected at each of the 3 consultations (prior to treatment and 3 and 6 months after the treatment start). CLINICAL IMPACT This will be the first clinical pharmacological study on regarding treatment of lymphedema with Tacrolimus. This study will test the feasibility and efficacy of Tacrolimus ointment in a population of breast cancer patients who have developed lymphedema. The study may lead to a routine clinical implementation of tacrolimus ointment to patients diagnosed with Lymphedema. Regardless of the outcome, the study will benefit the patients and future research in the field of lymphedema.

The goal of this randomised comparison study is to compare different bandage interface pressures in individuals with breast cancer related lymphedema The main questions it aims to answer are: Is high or low bandage pressure effective in reducing edema and soft tissue thickness? do bandages applied with high or low bandage pressure comprimise sleep, comfort or subjective benefit from treatment? Participants will recieve complex decongestive physiotherapy. Bandage will apply high or low pressure. Effects of high and low bandage interface pressures will compare

Lymphedema results from impaired lymphatic transport with increased limb volume. The results of systematic reviews indicate that breast cancer survivors can perform resistance exercise training at high-enough intensities to elicit strength gains without triggering changes to lymphedema status. There is strong evidence indicating that ret produces significant gains in muscular strength without provoking breast cancer-related lymphedema. On the one hand, the literature studies say future exercise programs will have to be evaluated in detail regarding intensity, volume, duration, frequency, and exercised muscle group. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of upper body resistance exercise on the arm circumference, grip strength, pain, musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limbs, self-reported lymphedema symptoms, pinch strength, lymphedema functioning, disability, and health questionnaire/lymph-ıcf patient with upper extremity lymphedema and to compare these effects between resistance exercise involving high and low loads (heavier vs lighter weights).

The study will evaluate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of the Flexitouch head and neck treatment plus standard home care compared to standard home care regimen alone.

Patients with lymphedema may experience pain and body image issues. This study investigates the effect of Combined Decongestive Therapy and pneumatic compression pump on body image in patients with lymphedema secondary to breast cancer treatment.42 women with breast cancer related lymphedema participated. All patients completed the body image and relationships scale. Researchers divided the participants randomly into an intervention (n=21) or control group (n=21). In the first phase, CDT was accompanied by use of a compression pump for four weeks, three days per week. In the second phase, Combined DecongestiveTherapy was performed daily without compression pump for four weeks by patients at home. At the end of each phase, both groups completed the questionaire. Researchers analyzed the data with SPSS v.17.

At the end of the study, comparative information about the effects of PRP, complex decongestive physiotherapy and low level laser on edema volume, range of motion, muscle strength, functional capacity and quality of life will be obtained in the treatment of patients with lower limb lymphedema. Since there is no study about this field in the literature, this study will provide new and valuable contributions about treatment of lower extremity lymphedema for the researchers and clinicians.

Current lymphedema management protocols are based on the use of simple measures of hygiene (regular washing with soap and water, skin and nail care), use of topical antibiotics or antifungal agents, exercise and footwear. This is considered the "standard of care" in most endemic countries in the absence of any structured treatment programs. Previous controlled clinical trials and extensive field experience have shown the benefit of these measures in reducing the frequency of attacks of acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (ADLA) that drive the progression of lymphedema. In the present study, the progression of lymphedema in a group of patients who receive a six-week course of doxycycline will be compared with that of a group who receives doxycycline "look-alike" placebo tablets. However, both groups will be enrolled into a standardized "regimen of hygiene" described above. Thus, patients enrolled in the "placebo" group also will receive the current standard of care, and the placebo used in the study will help to identify the benefits of doxycycline on a background of simple hygiene measures. The regimens will be explained to all participants who will be trained to use established standardized methods of hygiene and be effectively applying it prior to the initiation of the drug treatment. In addition, patients will be evaluated at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.. A common, generic SOP with handouts that describes methods and the training schedule will be used so that similar methods are employed across all sites.

This study is being done because women have arm swelling for more than 6 months despite wrapping and other treatments. This swelling is called lymphedema. It is the back up of lymph system fluid that causes swelling in the arm. The swelling can just happen, but more commonly it is caused when lymph nodes are removed during cancer surgery. It can develop right after breast cancer treatment or weeks, months or even years later. In our preliminary research, the investigators found that more than 1/3 of the 33 patients showed at least a 30% reduction in lymphedema following acupuncture treatment and there were no serious adverse events during the treatment or 6 month followup. This study will include a larger group of patients. Patients will be assigned to one of two groups, and results of the groups will be compared to see if acupuncture can reduce lymphedema and whether the effect lasts after acupuncture treatment is completed.