Inflammatory Response and Tissue Fibrosis/ Lymphatico-venous Bypass

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients undergoing lymphatico-venular bypass for lymphedema.
2. History of axillary lymph node dissection, sentinel lymph node biopsy or dissection.
3. A minimum of three (3) months post-op from any surgical interventions.
4. A minimum of six (6) months from the last dose of chemotherapy.
5. Patients with unilateral lymphedema.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active systemic infection or allergic reaction.
2. Active parasitic infection.
3. History of primary (congenital) lymphedema.
4. Metastatic cancer.
5. History of autoimmune disorders including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, systemic sclerosis.
6. History of other fibroproliferative disorders including cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis, kidney fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, scleroderma.
7. Current treatment with steroids.
8. Concurrent secondary systemic cancer exclusive of cutaneous malignancies.
9. Treatment with myelosuppressive or stimulatory drugs within six (6) months of enrollment.
10. History of bone marrow transplantation.