Introduction of Relationship Between the Vascular and Lymphatic Systems in Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Research

Abstract

In the past, the lymphatic and vascular systems were considered to be distinct circulatory systems. Consequently, diseases related to lymphatic and vascular circulation insufficiency were considered to have entirely different pathogenesis and treatment strategies. However, recent studies have reported a close interaction between these systems, revealing that dysfunction in lymphatic circulation can affect vascular insufficiency and vice versa. This new understanding has intimated the necessity of studying body fluid circulation from an integrated perspective that encompasses both capillaries and larger vessels in the lymphatic and vascular systems. In this review, we will introduce some cases observed in our research on lymphedema, a representative lymphatic insufficiency disease, focusing on the interrelation between the lymphatic and vascular systems identified in our findings. We studied lymphatic channel sheet (LCS), which is an artificial lymphatic scaffold for lymphangiogenesis, lymphangio-dynamics, which is a method to evaluate the lymphatic function, and quantified staging using magnetic resonance (MR) lymphangiography with gadolinium contrast agents. Although these studies were initiated to diagnose and treat lymphatic circulation disorders, we could observe associations with the vascular system. Based on these cases, we aim to discuss the intricate relationship between the lymphatic and vascular systems.