TY - JOUR AB - Elephantiasis nostras is a chronic disorder that is difficult to treat. It is characterized by marked lymphedema, associated with hyperkeratosis, ulceration, deep skin folds and a cobblestone appearance of the skin. Causes include parasitic and bacterial infections, neoplasia and obesity, but numerous cases have uncertain aetiology. Treatment includes surgery and medication, which are associated with variable results. In the present study, a 72‑year old female with renal insufficiency presented with leg enlargement of 3‑4 years duration, which rendered her housebound. Examination showed massive lower limb enlargement, with typical cobblestone appearance. She was on furoseminde 80 mg/day. A diagnosis of elephantiasis nostras was made. Then, she was treated with increased furosemide from 80 to 120 mg daily and homeopathic Apocynum cannabinum, CH30 potency, t.d.s. Unavailability of corresponding fit excluded the use of compressive stockings. The patient remitted over 18 months, with limb diameters dropping from 68/46 cm (right mid‑calf/ankle) and 67/43 cm (left mid‑calf/ankle) to 64/43 cm (right mid‑calf/ankle) and 64.5/45 cm (left mid‑calf/ankle) at 6 months, 63/42 cm (right mid‑calf/ankle) and 65/41 cm (left mid‑calf/ankle) at 12 months, and 46/35 cm (right mid‑calf/ankle) and 48/36 cm (left mid‑calf/ankle) at 18 months, with improvement of skin appearance. Elephantiasis nostras is not spontaneously remitting. In this resource‑limited setting, furosemide combined with homeopathic Apocynum cannabinum has proved valuable and may be used for similar cases. AD - Outpatient Dermatology Department, ‘Dr. N.C. Paulescu’ National Institute of Metabolic Disease, Nutrition and Diabetes, 020475 Bucharest, Romania Multidisciplinary Integrated Center of Dermatological Interface Research (MIC-DIR), 800010 Galati, Romania Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ‘Dunărea de Jos’ University, 800008 Galati, Romania AU - Nwabudike,Lawrence,Chukwudi AU - Buzia,Olimpia AU - Elisei,Alina,Mihaela AU - Tatu,Alin,Laurentiu DA - 2022/04/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2022.11218 IS - 4 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - elephantiasis nostras lymphedema homeopathy integrative medicine furosemide Apocynum cannabinum PY - 2022 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 289 ST - An integrative therapeutic approach to elephantiasis nostras verrucosa: A case report T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - An integrative therapeutic approach to elephantiasis nostras verrucosa: A case report UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11218 VL - 23 ER -