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 -