Abstract
Objective:
To assess the effect of Daflon 500 mg on upper lymphoedema occurring after conventional treatment of breast cancer.
Design:
Open, pilot, single centre trial.
Setting:
Hospital outpatients attending a University Hospital.
Patients:
Ten female patients (aged 44–64 years) whose previous treatment for breast cancer was followed by upper limb lymphoedema (mean (SD) time delay = 17±7 months).
Interventions:
Oral administration of a daily dose of two tablets of Daflon 500 mg for 6 months.
Main outcome measures:
Symptoms, affected upper limb volume and parameters of radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy using technetium-99m.
Results:
All patients experienced improvement of symptoms and limb volume (mean volume decrease of the swollen limb: 6.80%). Functional parameters assessed with scintigraphy were significantly improved (half-life: 147.4 (14.9) to 144.1 (14.9) min, p < 0.01; clearance of the colloid: 25.9 (2.5) to 28.3 (2.8) <l/min, p < 0.05; lymphatic speed of the colloid: 7.7 (0.3) to 8.0 (0.2) cm/min, p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
These preliminary results suggest that this therapy is effective for the treatment of lymphoedema.
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