Pathophysiology and precision management of lymphedema

Lymphedema is a chronic and progressive disease driven by lymphatic transport failure, inflammation, fibrosis, and adipose expansion. Despite major advances in understanding lymphatic biology, immune dysregulation, and metabolic disease, the contribution of autoimmunity and systemic inflammation to lymphedema susceptibility and progression remains under-recognized. Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional interplay in which lymphatic stasis fuels chronic immune activation and fibrosis, while autoimmune disorders, metabolic derangements, and insulin resistance predispose to lymphatic dysfunction and impaired tissue repair.
This Research Topic aims to advance mechanistic, diagnostic, and clinical insights into how immune dysregulation and metabolic disease intersect with lymphatic failure across primary and secondary lymphedema. It welcomes work that integrates molecular, imaging, and immune profiling approaches, along with precision-risk tools to improve early detection and personalized management. Studies exploring how various autoimmune and metabolic comorbidities, as well as pharmaceuticals and cancer therapies, modify immune responses and influence breast-cancer related lymphedema risk are particularly encouraged.

By bringing together lymphatic biology, immunology, oncology, and precision medicine, this collection seeks to drive innovations in pathophysiologic understanding, advanced imaging and diagnostics, immune-modulating therapies, and individualized prevention strategies for patients at risk of or living with lymphedema.

This Research Topic invites original research articles, reviews, and case reports exploring the complex interplay between lymphedema and autoimmunity. Potential themes include:

• The role of autoimmune responses in the pathophysiology of lymphedema.

• Mechanistic insights into how immune dysregulation influences lymphedema pathophysiology.

• The impact of chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation on lymphedema pathophysiology. The impact of insulin resistance and diabetes on lymphatic function and lymphedema progression.

• Advances in diagnostic tools and biomarkers for detecting autoimmune-related and metabolic-related lymphedema.

• Therapeutic strategies targeting lymphatic and immune system interactions.

• Clinical implications and management of patients with coexisting lymphedema and autoimmune diseases.

Topic Editor Dr. Stav Brown is a consultant to Impedimed. Dr Jennifer Kwan declares financial grants from the University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer for research. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Chronic Inflammation; Autoimmunity; Metabolic Disorders; Lymphatic Dysfunction; Therapeutic Strategies

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.