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Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.
Stephanie
Wilken-Smith
stephanie.wilkensmith@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Prof
Derek
Macallan
macallan@sgul.ac.uk
Merrie
Gowie
merrie.gowie@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Diseases of veins, lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes, not elsewhere classified
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Patients with Primary Lymphoedema (PL) suffer from the accumulation of interstitial fluid in a limb due to an underlying abnormality of the lymphatic system. The abnormality is usually present at birth but, in some forms of primary lymphoedema, swelling may not develop until late childhood, puberty or adulthood. Patients with lymphoedema also suffer from recurrent infections, particularly cellulitis and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. One of the major functions of the lymphatic system is the transport of antigen-presenting cells from tissue to regional lymph nodes for initiation of a T cell response (adaptive immunity). Disturbed trafficking of immune cells within the compromised lymph drainage territory may predispose to local infections ie within the region affected by lymphoedema. We have some evidence that systemic immunity may be disturbed as patients with primary lymphoedema may have abnormally low numbers of circulating lymphocyte populations. This is particularly marked in patients with visceral involvement. The most striking abnormality is in the T cell lymphocyte subsets. These patients suffer from recurrent cellulitis and warts but opportunistic infections are rarely seen even with very low levels of T cell lymphocytes.
This study will lead to an understanding of why this abnormality is seen. It will determine if it only occurs in patients with primary lymphoedema, any patient with lymphoedema or mainly those with visceral involvement. Is this due to an associated lack of production or a loss into the oedematous limb? We will look at whether there is a significant incidence of infections due to the abnormalities in lymphocyte subsets and if not, why not.
It will also give an insight into the mechanics of the immune system outside of the cardiovascular circulation.
Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.
The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:
Observational type: Clinical Laboratory Study;
You can take part if:
You may not be able to take part if:
Exclude those with active infection and/or HIV infection.
Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.
Prof
Derek
Macallan
macallan@sgul.ac.uk
Merrie
Gowie
merrie.gowie@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Stephanie
Wilken-Smith
stephanie.wilkensmith@stgeorges.nhs.uk
The study is sponsored by ST GEORGE'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST and funded by Medical Research Council (MRC) .
Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.
Read full details
for Trial ID: CPMS 42331
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