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- $Unique_ID{BRK03951}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Lymphangiomyomatosis}
- $Subject{Lymphangiomyomatosis Pulmonary Lymphangiomyomatosis Pulmonary
- Lymphangiomyomatosis Syndrome Lymphangioleiomatosis Tuberous Sclerosis }
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1987, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 410:
- Lymphangiomyomatosis
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible the main title of the article (Lymphangiomyomatosis) is
- not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next
- page to find alternate names, disorder subdivisions, and related disorders
- covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Pulmonary Lymphangiomyomatosis
- Pulmonary Lymphangiomyomatosis Syndrome
- Lymphangioleiomatosis
-
- Information on the following disease can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Tuberous Sclerosis
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
- Lymphangiomyomatosis is a progressive lung disorder which primarily
- affects women during childbearing years. It is marked by progressive
- breathlessness caused by growth of abnormal spindle shaped smooth muscle
- cells in the lungs which can block airways. The lymph nodes, thoracic duct
- or liver may also be affected. Weight loss may occur despite adequate
- nutrition. Some cases of this disorder have been triggered by injections of
- hormones such as chorionic gonadotropin.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Lymphangiomyomatosis affects women exclusively. The first noticeable symptom
- is usually shortness of breath caused by the progressive abnormal growth of
- smooth muscle tissue inside the lungs. Air or excess fluid may appear
- inside the lining (pluera) of the lungs. Eventually, bleeding inside the
- lungs may occur accompanied by expectorations of blood.
-
- The abnormal growth of smooth muscle tissue may also occur in the
- lymphatic vessels (particularly of the intestines or liver) and in one of the
- main lymphatic ducts known as the thoracic duct. Chlyus is the milky fluid
- absorbed by intestinal lymphatic vessels during digestion which normally
- passes through the thoracic duct and into the veins where it mixes with the
- blood. When tissue grows abnormally in lymphatic vessels causing blockage or
- rupture, chlyus or other fluids may also accumulate in the abdominal cavity
- wall or chest cavity wall. Weight loss may be caused by excessive loss of
- fat cells through the urine which gives it a milky appearance.
-
- Pregnancy or hormone injections may make symptoms of this disorder more
- severe, and in some rare cases hormones have been implicated as the cause of
- the disorder. Very rarely, symptoms of Lymphangiomyomatosis may be limited
- to the lymphatic vessels in the legs.
-
- Causes
-
- The exact cause of Lymphangiomyomatosis is not known. The disorder may be
- caused by hormone therapies used to treat other diseases or conditions.
- Since this illness affects only women, it may also be inherited as a sex-
- linked trait or possibly people may inherit a genetic disposition to the
- disorder.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Lymphangiomyomatosis affects women exclusively, usually during childbearing
- years.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Symptoms of the following disorder can be similar to Lymphangiomyomatosis.
- Comparison may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Tuberous Sclerosis is a genetic neurological disorder characterized by
- benign tumors of the brain, internal organs and skin lesions. Lung symptoms
- (abnormal growth of tissue blocking airways) are much the same as those of
- Lymphangiomyomatosis. However, the additional symptoms of Tuberous Sclerosis
- and the earlier onset of symptoms (during infancy or childhood) tend to
- differentiate these conditions. Tuberous Sclerosis involves additional
- neurological symptoms including epileptic seizures and varying degrees of
- mental retardation. Males or females may be affected. Tuberous Sclerosis
- has been found in conjunction with Lymphangiomyomatosis in a small number of
- cases. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Tuberous Sclerosis"
- as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Treatment of Lymphangiomyomatosis is directed at controlling symptoms.
- Accumulated fluid may be drained through tubes or shunts. A bronchodilator
- may alleviate breathing difficulties. In some cases, removal of the ovaries
- (oophorectomy) may result in improvement. The antiestrogen drug tamoxifen
- may control progression of symptoms. Surgical insertion of a tetracycline
- irritant (tetracycline pleurodesis) into the membrane surrounding the lungs
- reduces fluid accumulations. A carefully controlled diet to replace lost fat
- may or may not improve symptoms. In severe cases, surgical removal of tissue
- growth from the lungs may be helpful.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- Additional investigation into the relationship of hormone therapy to the
- onset of Lymphangiomyomatosis is under way. Hereditary factors are also
- under study to help determine whether a genetic predisposition is necessary
- to develop this disorder. The therapeutic use of the synthetic form of the
- hormone progesterone (progestin) is also being researched, although a
- complete evaluation of safety and effectiveness as a therapy for
- Lymphangiomyomatosis is not yet available.
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- December 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to
- keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and
- accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for
- the most current information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Lymphangiomatosis, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- American Lung Association
- 1740 Broadway
- New York, NY 10019
- (212) 315-8700
-
- NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-4236
-
- For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals, please contact:
-
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
- 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
- White Plains, NY 10605
- (914) 428-7100
-
- Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
- 35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
- Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- (800) 336-GENE
- (301) 652-5553
-
- References
-
- SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF PULMONARY LYMPHANGIOMYOMATOSIS WITH OOPHORECTOMY AND
- PROGESTERONE: D. Adamson, et al.; Am Rev Respir Dis (October 1985, issue
- 132(4)). Pp. 916-921.
-
- PULMONARY LYMPHANGIOMYOMATOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS.
- TREATMENT WITH TAMOXIFEN AND TETRACYCLINE-PLEURODESIS: C.M. Luna, et al.;
- Chest (September 1985, issue 88(3)). Pp. 473-475.
-
- LYMPHANGIOMYOMATOSIS WITH CHYLOUS ASCITES: TREATMENT WITH DIETARY FAT
- RESTRICTION AND MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES: P.R. Calabrese, et al.; Cancer
- (August 1977, issue 40(2)). Pp. 895-897.
-
-