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Evidence for altered cell‐mediated immunity in postmastectomy lymphoedema
Author(s) -
MALLON E.,
POWELL S.,
MORTIMER P.,
RYAN T.J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1997.19872068.x
Subject(s) - efferent , immune system , medicine , lymphatic system , immunity , afferent , immunology , lymphedema , cell mediated immunity , cellular immunity , breast cancer , cancer
Summary Patients with chronic lymphoedema are prone to develop chronic infections and various tumours in the lymphoedematous limb, suggesting that regional immune surveillance is impaired. To test the hypothesis that cutaneous cell‐mediated immunity is impaired. 35 women with postmastectomy lymphoedema were investigated using dinitrochlorobenzene to test the afferent and efferent loops of the allergic contact immune response. The results suppot the role of lymphatics as an important component of the immune response to allergens by the demonstration of impairment of both the afferent and efferent loops of the allergic contact dermatitis reaction, and confirm that there is suppression of immune competence in a lymphoedematous limb.