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Join Kathy Bates
and LE&RN in Washington, DC!
May 11 and 12Click “learn more.”
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Pia Ostergaard and Peter Mortimer honored at GRC 2018!Click “learn more” to read more.
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Welcome our new Connecticut and Illinois chapters!Click “learn more.”
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Harvard Lymphedema Symposium videos now available!Click “learn more” to watch videos. A new session will be available every two weeks!
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Learn More About Lymphatic Diseases
Lymphatic Continuum (LC) refers to the continuum of diseases impacted by the lymphatic system including heart disease, AIDS, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer.
Lymphedema (LE) is a chronic, debilitating lymphatic disease that results in disfiguring swelling in one or more parts of the body due to a damaged lymphatic system. WHO estimates over 170 million people suffer from LE worldwide. The swelling is caused by a combination of lymph stagnation and the structural alterations in the tissues. LE can be genetic or inherited (Primary) or it can occur as a consequence of a surgical procedure, infections, radiation therapy, or other forms of physical trauma (Secondary).
Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) threatens 1.4 billion people in 73 countries. Commonly known as elephantiasis, 120 million are currently infected by this mosquito carrying parasitic disease. Over 40 million of those affected by LF are disfigured and incapacitated by the disease.
Lipedema (LI) is an adipose tissue disorder or a lipid metabolism disorder that affects approximately 11% of women, often in the hips and legs, but also in the upper arms. Lipedema fat is relatively unresponsive to diet and exercise. Lipedema is both an excess buildup of fat cells in a particular area, and the expansion of those fat cells.
Lymphatic Malformations (LM) are rare, non-malignant masses consisting of fluid-filled channels or spaces caused by the abnormal development of the lymphatic system. LM is usually apparent at birth or by two years of age and most commonly affects the head and neck.
