To determine the cause of upper limb edema in 8 patients with peripheral polyarthritis of rheumatoid-type.
Objective assessment of lymph function using quantitative lymphoscintigraphy.
Seven cases with either rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis were found to have impaired lymph drainage associated with edema. All cases shared a distal rheumatoid pattern of arthritis but showed no relation between severity of lymphatic impairment and either duration or severity of arthritis.
Polyarthritis of rheumatoid-type may be associated with lymphedema due to impaired lymphatic function.