BACKGROUND: Podoconiosis is a common cause of lymphoedema in barefoot workers in Ethiopia and other countries. It has severe consequences for patients' physical function, quality of life and economic status. AIMS: To investigate stratum corneum (SC) hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in patients with podoconiosis compared with controls. METHODS: In total, 55 patients and 20 controls were recruited. For each study subject, SC and TEWL measurements were taken, along with foot and lower leg circumferences. Measurements were compared between the patient and control groups. RESULTS: Foot circumferences tended to be higher in patients with podoconiosis, with the mean foot:leg circumference ratio being 1·19 (95% confidence interval 1·11-1·28) times that for controls (P = 0·001). There was no detectable difference between patients and controls in TEWL values (P > 0·05); however, SC hydration was significantly lower in patients vs. controls for the foot (P = 0·004) and lower leg (P = 0·046) sites. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with podoconiosis have significantly lower SC hydration in the skin of their lower legs and feet than controls, which may lead to cracking and splitting, and increased risk of lymphoedema and infection.
BACKGROUND: Podoconiosis is a common cause of lymphoedema in barefoot workers in Ethiopia and other countries. It has severe consequences for patients' physical function, quality of life and economic status. AIMS: To investigate stratum corneum (SC) hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in patients with podoconiosis compared with controls. METHODS: In total, 55 patients and 20 controls were recruited. For each study subject, SC and TEWL measurements were taken, along with foot and lower leg circumferences. Measurements were compared between the patient and control groups. RESULTS: Foot circumferences tended to be higher in patients with podoconiosis, with the mean foot:leg circumference ratio being 1·19 (95% confidence interval 1·11-1·28) times that for controls (P = 0·001). There was no detectable difference between patients and controls in TEWL values (P > 0·05); however, SC hydration was significantly lower in patients vs. controls for the foot (P = 0·004) and lower leg (P = 0·046) sites. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with podoconiosis have significantly lower SC hydration in the skin of their lower legs and feet than controls, which may lead to cracking and splitting, and increased risk of lymphoedema and infection.
Authors: Jennifer S Le Blond; Peter J Baxter; Dhimiter Bello; Jennifer Raftis; Yordanos B Molla; Javier Cuadros; Gail Davey Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-05-11 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Radwa A Mehanna; Iman Nabil; Noha Attia; Amany A Bary; Khalid A Razek; Tamer A E Ahmed; Fatma Elsayed Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2015-07-12 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Yordanos B Molla; Nicola A Wardrop; Jennifer S Le Blond; Peter Baxter; Melanie J Newport; Peter M Atkinson; Gail Davey Journal: Int J Health Geogr Date: 2014-06-20 Impact factor: 3.918