Análise dos pacientes portadores de linfedema em serviço público Analysis of patients with lymphedema at public institution

Objective: To study the incidence and distribution of lymphedema concerning etiology and clinical forms in patients followed-up at the Service of Lymphology of the Angiology and Vascular Surgery Course at the Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. Methods: 115 patients with lymphedema were assessed and classified as to etiology according to Kinmoth’s classification, site involvement, evolution time, and clinical form of the disease according to Mowlem’s classification. Results: In our analysis, 43.48% of patients presented primary lymphedema, 56.25% presented secondary lymphedema, which was more frequent as a consequence of erysipelas. Most patients were female (79.14%). Conclusion: In our study, lymphedema was predominant in female patients and lower limbs were the most affected. Regarding the clinical form, Mowlem type II prevailed. Among the causes for secondary lymphedema, the most frequent was the postinfectious. Outpatient follow-up offers a better assessment of patients with lymphedema in order to control the disease evolution.