An insight into the treatment

Secondary lymphoedema, a condition often considered incurable that typically occurs following surgical cancer treatments or radiotherapy, remains one of the major challenges facing modern medicine. A promising development in this field is microcurrent therapy (MT), which has recently been attracting increasing attention. This article is based on a study by Sung Cheol Cho and colleagues and provides a comprehensive insight into the potential of microcurrent therapy as a treatment for secondary lymphoedema.

The study: a pioneering achievement

In the study, published under PMID: 37431220 and DOI: 10.21037/apm-23-94, the researchers investigated the effect of microcurrent therapy on a rat model of secondary lymphoedema. The model was created by dissecting the right axillary lymph node, thereby inducing lymphoedema in the rat’s forelimbs. This approach mirrors the clinical conditions of secondary lymphoedema in humans, which frequently occurs following breast cancer surgery.

Methodology: Rigour and diligence

The researchers divided 12 Sprague-Dawley rats into two groups: one group received microcurrent therapy, the other a sham treatment. MT was administered daily for one hour over a two-week period. The circumference of the wrist and the area 2.5 cm above the wrist were measured at various time points to assess the efficacy of the therapy.

Results: Significant improvements

The results of the study are remarkable. The circumference of the carpal joint in the MT group was significantly smaller 14 days after the last treatment than in the sham MT group. This suggests that microcurrent therapy is effective in reducing the symptoms of lymphoedema. Furthermore, the MT group showed significantly greater vascularisation and less fibrosis compared with the control group.

Significance of VEGF-C and VEGFR3

The findings regarding the growth factors VEGF-C and VEGFR3 are of particular interest. VEGF-C, a key factor in lymphangiogenesis, was elevated in the MT group, supporting the hypothesis that microcurrent therapy promotes the formation of new lymphatic vessels. Although the difference in VEGF-C expression between the groups was not statistically significant, the trend points to possible mechanisms of action for microcurrent therapy.

Conclusions: A new chapter in therapy

The study concludes that microcurrent therapy not only reduces the symptoms of secondary lymphoedema but also influences the pathological process by stimulating angiogenesis and reducing fibrosis. This could make microcurrent therapy a new, non-invasive treatment method for patients with secondary lymphoedema.

The future of microcurrent therapy

In light of these findings, microcurrent therapy could soon become a cornerstone of treatment for secondary lymphoedema. Its non-invasive nature, combined with its ability to influence the underlying pathological processes, makes it an attractive option for patients and clinicians alike.

Concluding Remarks

Microcurrent therapy, the use of which is still in its infancy, promises to herald a new era in the treatment of secondary lymphoedema. Ongoing research in this field will undoubtedly yield further insights and could pave the way for innovative therapies that improve the lives of many patients.

Source

Cho, Sung Cheol; Sung, Woo Jung; Lee, Youn Ju; Cho, Hee Kyung (2023): Therapeutic effect of microcurrent therapy in a rat model of secondary lymphoedema. In: Annals of Palliative Medicine. DOI: PubMed.