Introduction:

Lymphedema is a chronic disease with a negative impact on the health of patients with lymphedema. It is considered an underestimated and sub-recorded health problem, which requires greater research and health efforts.

Objective:

Identify the characteristics of some parameters of humoral and cellular immunity in patients with lymphedema from Cerro municipality.

Methods:

A descriptive study was carried out in 48 patients living in Cerro municipality, who were attended in the external consultation of the National Institute of Angiology and Vascular Surgery in the period 2011-2015. The group was divided into 24 patients with lymphedema and 24 patients without the disease. The concentrations of immunoglobulins (A, G and M) and C-reactive protein were quantified in all of them. The test of delayed hypersensitivity was also perfomed. Non-parametric chi-square was used to associate immune state with the presence of lymphedema, etiology and lymphedema stages. Reliability was of 95% (p<0.05).

Results:

Female patients predominated (58.3%) and those of 60 years and older (29.2%). There was a higher frequency of recurrent lymphangitis (70.8%), predominantly stage II b secondary lymphedema (45.8%); lower right limb involvement (45.8%), with a significant difference of immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG); and frequency of anergic patients (91.7%), with positive C-reactive protein (45.8%).

Conclusions:

Patients with lymphedema have their immune system affected, more frequently the anergic ones, a decrease of IgA and IgG immunoglobulins, and positivity of C-reactive protein.

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