Meat-Induced Subcutaneous Tissue Inflammation: Two Case Reports of Primary Lymphedema

Abstract

We reported two patients suffering from chronic primary lymphedema (LE) with history of multiple recurrent cellulitis related to dietary intakes. They were advised to abstain from animal product consumption. At the end of six months of follow-up, a distinct improvement was observed in the patient who followed the dietary advice.  The first patient was a 53-year-old Thai female with a body mass index (BMI) of 31.0 kg/m² who had suffered from LE for eight years with-three recurrent episodes of cellulitis in nine months from January to September 2010. One acute episode of cellulitis occurred in October 2010 suspected to be induced by chicken consumption. Tissue fluid cultures found no organism. The second patient was a 45-year-old Thai female with a BMI of 30.8 kg/m². She had suffered from LE for 15 years with innumerable history of attacks of cellulitis. The last attack was detected three months ago. During 6 months investigation, she was advised to strictly abstain from animal products, no recurrence was seen. This case underwent a significant weight-loss and a remarkable diminution in the percentage difference in circumference of the leg. In addition, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was significant reduced from 3.5 mg/l to 0.8 mg/l. These two case reports supported the notion that dietary intake could be an important precipitating factor of subcutaneous tissue inflammation. Restricted meat consumption might benefit in treating patients with chronic LE.