Third Trimester Lower Extremity Lymphorrhea

Introduction. Lower extremity edema is one of the most common complaints among pregnant patients. However, there is no literature mentioning weeping edema (i.e., lymphorrhea) in a pregnant woman who has no concordant underlying renal and/or cardiac pathology. There is also a lack of evidence and rec...

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Main Authors: Kaori Morimoto, Luke O’Rourke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/3594923
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author Kaori Morimoto
Luke O’Rourke
author_facet Kaori Morimoto
Luke O’Rourke
author_sort Kaori Morimoto
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Lower extremity edema is one of the most common complaints among pregnant patients. However, there is no literature mentioning weeping edema (i.e., lymphorrhea) in a pregnant woman who has no concordant underlying renal and/or cardiac pathology. There is also a lack of evidence and recommendations regarding the therapeutic benefit and safety profile of diuretic use to treat profound pregnancy-associated edema. Herein, we present the case of 32-year-old female who presented with a significant lymphorrhea during the third trimester without cardiac or renal comorbidity and was successfully treated with torsemide. Case Report. We report a case of a 32-year-old multigravida patient pregnant with her third child and has two living full-term children (G3P2003). Her pregnancy was complicated by obesity, smoking (vape), and previous history of fetal growth restriction. The patient presented for routine prenatal care at 9-week gestation. She was diagnosed with chronic hypertension at 19 weeks of pregnancy based upon systolic blood pressure>140. Lifestyle modifications were recommended, but the patient did not comply. At her 31-week office visit, the patient presented with anasarca and clear, slightly viscous fluid seeping through the atraumatic skin of her lower extremities. Preeclampsia, renal, cardiac, vascular, and infectious complications were all ruled out. The patient responded positively to loop diuretic therapy. Torsemide was found to be far more beneficial than furosemide. The patient was induced at 37 weeks secondary to chronic hypertension requiring antihypertensive therapy. Delivery was uncomplicated. The patient gave birth to a healthy male with birth weight of 2,920 g via spontaneous vaginal delivery. Discussion. Pitting edema of lower limbs frequently occurs as a result of fluid overload and chronic venous insufficiency, and pregnancy is one of the known risk factors. Additionally, the blockage of lymphatic channel with the gravida uterus likely was the main contributing factor for her lymphorrhea. In this patient, the capillary hydrostatic pressure was likely accentuated due to hypertension, obesity, and vaping. Furosemide was minimally effective to alleviate her symptoms. Torsemide provided much more effective diuresis and symptom control. However, her symptoms persisted until delivery. Conclusion. Torsemide provided significant therapeutic benefit over furosemide in this patient without adverse maternal, fetal, or neonatal outcomes. Further study is needed to assess the safe use of loop diuretics in the pregnant population who suffers from significant lower extremity edema.
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spelling doaj-art-4f4feae8275445d7874d99b49a3949cd2025-02-03T01:00:08ZengWileyCase Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology2090-66922021-01-01202110.1155/2021/3594923Third Trimester Lower Extremity LymphorrheaKaori Morimoto0Luke O’Rourke1Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine Pacific NorthwestWestern University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine Pacific NorthwestIntroduction. Lower extremity edema is one of the most common complaints among pregnant patients. However, there is no literature mentioning weeping edema (i.e., lymphorrhea) in a pregnant woman who has no concordant underlying renal and/or cardiac pathology. There is also a lack of evidence and recommendations regarding the therapeutic benefit and safety profile of diuretic use to treat profound pregnancy-associated edema. Herein, we present the case of 32-year-old female who presented with a significant lymphorrhea during the third trimester without cardiac or renal comorbidity and was successfully treated with torsemide. Case Report. We report a case of a 32-year-old multigravida patient pregnant with her third child and has two living full-term children (G3P2003). Her pregnancy was complicated by obesity, smoking (vape), and previous history of fetal growth restriction. The patient presented for routine prenatal care at 9-week gestation. She was diagnosed with chronic hypertension at 19 weeks of pregnancy based upon systolic blood pressure>140. Lifestyle modifications were recommended, but the patient did not comply. At her 31-week office visit, the patient presented with anasarca and clear, slightly viscous fluid seeping through the atraumatic skin of her lower extremities. Preeclampsia, renal, cardiac, vascular, and infectious complications were all ruled out. The patient responded positively to loop diuretic therapy. Torsemide was found to be far more beneficial than furosemide. The patient was induced at 37 weeks secondary to chronic hypertension requiring antihypertensive therapy. Delivery was uncomplicated. The patient gave birth to a healthy male with birth weight of 2,920 g via spontaneous vaginal delivery. Discussion. Pitting edema of lower limbs frequently occurs as a result of fluid overload and chronic venous insufficiency, and pregnancy is one of the known risk factors. Additionally, the blockage of lymphatic channel with the gravida uterus likely was the main contributing factor for her lymphorrhea. In this patient, the capillary hydrostatic pressure was likely accentuated due to hypertension, obesity, and vaping. Furosemide was minimally effective to alleviate her symptoms. Torsemide provided much more effective diuresis and symptom control. However, her symptoms persisted until delivery. Conclusion. Torsemide provided significant therapeutic benefit over furosemide in this patient without adverse maternal, fetal, or neonatal outcomes. Further study is needed to assess the safe use of loop diuretics in the pregnant population who suffers from significant lower extremity edema.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/3594923
spellingShingle Kaori Morimoto
Luke O’Rourke
Third Trimester Lower Extremity Lymphorrhea
Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology
title Third Trimester Lower Extremity Lymphorrhea
title_full Third Trimester Lower Extremity Lymphorrhea
title_fullStr Third Trimester Lower Extremity Lymphorrhea
title_full_unstemmed Third Trimester Lower Extremity Lymphorrhea
title_short Third Trimester Lower Extremity Lymphorrhea
title_sort third trimester lower extremity lymphorrhea
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/3594923
work_keys_str_mv AT kaorimorimoto thirdtrimesterlowerextremitylymphorrhea
AT lukeorourke thirdtrimesterlowerextremitylymphorrhea