TY - JOUR AB - <p>Sixty patients with leg lymphedema from a variety of etiologies were divided into randomized two groups, matched by Grade, duration, age, sex, and cause of lymphedema. Using a double-blind format, one group received 5,6 benzo-[α]-pyrone (coumarin 1,2 benzopyrone,400 mg/day) for six months; the other received a placebo. For the next six months, both groups received a standardized regimen of heat (using microwaves) coupled with compression garments.</p> <p>Benzopyrone produced approximately 20% reduction in the volume (p=10<sup>-4</sup>) and improvement in circumferences and tonometry (p=10<sup>-5</sup> and 10<sup>-7</sup>). Symptoms (feelings of swelling,pain, heaviness and loss of mobility) were also significantly improved (p=0.03 to 10<sup>-7</sup>).</p> <p>During the second six months, when microwave heat therapy was added to drug therapy, the patients who had previously received the placebo showed significant improvement (p=0.03 to10<sup>-9</sup>) in signs and symptoms of lymphedema. Some, but not all, of the group that was receiving benzopyrones were also significantly improved by heat therapy (p=0.8 to 0.002). Taking benzopyrones for 12 months plus heat treatment for six months was significantly better, for some criteria, than the placebo plus heat therapy (p=0.7 to 0.04). On the other hand, heat plus either placebo or benzopyrone was often significantly better than either the active or inactive drug without heat (p=0.8 to 10-9).</p> AU - TS Chang, JL Gan, KD Fu, WY Huang DA - 1996/9// IS - 3 VL - 29 PB - International Society of Lymphology and the University of Arizona Libraries PY - 1996 TI - THE USE OF 5,6 BENZO-[α]-PYRONE (COUMARIN) AND HEATING BY MICROWAVES IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC LYMPHEDEMA OF THE LEGS T2 - Lymphology UR - http://journals.librarypublishing.arizona.edu/lymph/article/id/3296/ ER -