Skin lymphatic system in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension - review and critique.

Although numerous studies have confirmed the relationship between high salt intake and elevated blood pressure, the exact molecular mechanisms of this relationship are still unclear. There is growing evidence that skin interstitium, as well as the skin lymphatic system, are important regulators of both sodium (Na+) balance and blood pressure. Skin is in itself a large reservoir of Na+ ions which are stored in an osmotically inactive form on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Local hypertonicity due to extensive accumulation of Na+ within the skin as a result of a high-salt diet was demonstrated to induce macrophages to express a transcription factor termed tonicityresponsive enhancer binding protein (TonEBP) and subsequently to secrete vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), activating lymphangiogenesis within the skin. This regulatory axis seems to be adaptive in maintaining blood pressure in high salt-load states. Recent studies have added new insights into the functioning of lymphatic vessels and the pathogenesis of salt-sensitive hypertension as well as questioned the classic view of Na+ homeostasis. This review aims to summarize recent findings pertaining to the involvement of the skin lymphatic system in Na+ and blood pressure regulation.

Chyloperitoneum, chylothorax and lower extremity lymphedema in woman with sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis successfully treated with sirolimus: a case report.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease characterized by diffuse thin-walled cysts throughout the lungs on computed tomography and diffuse proliferation of abnormal smooth muscle-like cells (LAM cells) on lung biopsy. LAM affects women almost exclusively, predominantly in their reproductive age. The most typical presenting symptoms include dyspnea, spontaneous pneumothorax, cough and chylothorax. Abdominal findings represent less common initial manifestations of the disease and may pose diagnostic difficulties. The treatment of LAM has not been fully established. Recent studies report effectiveness of sirolimus in LAM patients. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman with sporadic LAM, successfully treated with sirolimus, in whom the first manifestation of the disease was chyloperitoneum and after three and nine years, respectively, lymphedema of the left lower extremity and right sided chylothorax occurred.