Lymphangitis ((also lymphangiitis; colloquially known as “blood poisoning”; ICD-10-GM I89.1: lymphangiitis) refers to the inflammation of lymphatic vessels.
The following forms of lymphangitis can be distinguished:
- Acute lymphangitis – usually originates from infected wounds:
- Lymphangitis simplex – is associated with cellular wall infiltration.
- Lymphangitis purulenta – is associated with accumulation of purulent masses, pearly thickening and possibly abscess formation.
- Chronic lymphangitis (lymphangitis fibrosa obliterans).
Lymphangitis is a relatively common disease.
Sex ratio: balanced
On prevalence (disease frequency) and incidence (frequency of new cases) are no figures available.
Course and prognosis: The course of lymphangitis depends mainly on the cause. If the cause is a bacterial infection, the prognosis is very good with antibiotic therapy. A possible complication of lymphangitis is sepsis (blood poisoning). In the further course of lymphangitis, secondary lymphedema (proliferation of tissue fluid caused by damage to the lymphatic system) may occur. This, if untreated, is a progressive (progressive), chronic disease that leads to tissue alteration, with an increase in connective and adipose tissue and changes in the extracellular matrix (extracellular matrix, intercellular substance, ECM, ECM: glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, collagen).
