Linfedema: il ruolo delle associazioni di volontariato

Lymphedema is a chronic disease, usually with a worsening trend, characterized by the accumulation in the interstitial spaces of fluids with a high protein content (1). It results from the organic alteration of the lymphatic circulation of one or more territories, most often determined by the therap...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inGiornale Italiano di medicina riabilitativa Vol. 35; no. 1
Main Authors Onorato, Alberto, Busetto, Alessandro
Format Journal Article
LanguageItalian
Published Milan Springer Healthcare Italia SRL 01.03.2021
Subjects
Charities
Epidemiology
Lymphedema
Medical diagnosis
Medical research
Medical treatment
Pathology
Support groups
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Summary:Lymphedema is a chronic disease, usually with a worsening trend, characterized by the accumulation in the interstitial spaces of fluids with a high protein content (1). It results from the organic alteration of the lymphatic circulation of one or more territories, most often determined by the therapy of malignant tumors or by congenital vascular alterations. Several other causes combine to increase the number of people affected. (2)Various reasons prevent us from knowing its prevalence and therefore from understanding its impact on an economic and social level. The lack of records for the pathology and the non-accessibility of these patients to inpatient treatments (if not due to complications) prevents reliable epidemiological data, which allow for example to understand the extent of the use of health facilities and the number of lost working hours.A research carried out several years ago by a small group of lymphologists made it possible to estimate the incidence in Italy, consisting of about 40,000 new cases per year (3).Although Lymphology is now well defined from the diagnostic and therapeutic point of view (as well indicated by the consensus document of the International Society of Lymphology) (4), the treatment pathways are generally fragmented and unsuitable for a pathology which, due to chronicity and complexity, on the other hand, requires clarity on evaluation methods and therapeutic settings.In recent years, the important gaps still present in Italy in the diagnostic and treatment paths of lymphedema have led to the establishment of various voluntary associations, with different objectives, but substantially with the common aim of obtaining legal and administrative recognition of the pathology, of creating paths diagnostic-therapeutic defined and in line with the most recent notions, to support people with lymphedema in difficulty.
ISSN:1128-4935