Abstract: Objective · To explore therapeutic effects of far-infrared radiation (FIR) therapy on chronic lower extremity lymphedema accompanied with dermatolymphangioadenitis (DLA), occurring after gynecological tumor resection. Methods · The enrolled patients received regular sessions using the FIR therapy machine over the 20-day treatment course (five days in each week). Clinical and laboratory outcome measures were carried out before and after treatment. Clinical outcome measures included DLA seizure frequency, patients subjective feedback, quality of life, and side effects. Laboratory outcome measures included bacterial cultures and concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, detected in serum and local lymphedema tissue fluid samples. Results · A total of 64 cases completed FIR treatment and clinical curative effect evaluation, including 11 cases at the same time completing the laboratory tests. The frequency of DLA decreased during treatment (P0.000). The efficiency rate was more than 50% for 63 (98%) patients receiving treatment. Even 50 patients (78%) did not experience a single episode of DLA recurrence in the whole year after treatment. Patients reported a subjective decrease in lymphedema-related symptoms (all P<0.05), including tightness, heaviness, pain, hardness, soreness, discomfort, heat, fullness, weakness, and numbness. Patients quality of life was improved after treatment (P0.000). Laboratory analysis showed an elevation in serum concentration of IL-1β after FIR therapy (P<0.05) and reduction in local tissue fluid concentrations of IL-2, IL-10 and IL-18 (all P<0.05). Bacterial culture results were both negative before and after treatment. Conclusion · FIR therapy provides an effective treatment modality for patients with chronic lymphedema accompanied with DLA that develops secondarily the treatment of gynecological malignancies, whose therapeutic effects may be due to reduce immune dysfunction within local lymphedema tissues.

Key words: far-infrared ray, lymphedema, gynecological tumor