Auto-Adjustable MOBIDERM® Autofit NIGHT-time Compression Armsleeve in the Upper Limb LYMphedema in Maintenance Phase

The gold standard treatment to achieve volume reduction of lymphedema is based on a Decongestive Lymphedema Therapy (DLT).that consists in 2 consecutive phases: the initial intensive phase which aim is to obtain maximal reduction of lymphedema volume and a second, the maintenance phase which aim is to maintain the initial volumetric reduction achieved during phase 1 as long as possible. The second maintenance phase mostly based on patient self-management of his treatment, is not strictly codified, but includes compression therapy, nutritional recommendations, skin cares, physical exercises and manual lymphatic drainage.

24 hours compression using garments or bandages seems to be crucial for long term management of lymphedema.

Garment and bandages prescriptions for daily treatment are a common practice in the maintenance phase but are often unsuitable for night treatment, as bandages are effective when well applied but are highly dependent on the patients' skills, and garments, due to their nature, can be poorly tolerated leading to low adherence from patients to self-management care. In the end, there is an unmet medical need for night treatment during maintenance phase. .

In this context THUASNE developed a specific night-time garment, for lymphedema maintenance phase. It is a standard Auto-Adjustable Armsleeve using the MOBIDERM® technology.

MOBIDERM® AUTOFIT is a standard self-adjusting compressive MOBIDERM® sleeve, with mitten.

Several small rigid straps are placed throughout the product to facilitate the passage of the arm, to adapt the garment to the morphology of each patient and to tighten it.

A first pilot randomized controlled study demonstrated some benefit to use MOBIDERM Autofit during night-time as an adjuvant treatment to daily compressive garment.

The objective of this new study is to confirm, using a more robust methodology, the effect of Auto-Adjustable MOBIDERM® Autofit Armsleeve on maintenance phase treatment, worn during the night, within the period at risk for the so called rebound effect as reported in several observational studies.

Inclusion criteria

• Women responding positively to the lymphedema reduction phase defined by a ≥ 20% decrease in lymphedema volume at the end of DLT
• Unilateral secondary upper limb lymphedema of stage II or III according to the criteria defined by the International Society of Lymphology, following breast cancer
• Affected arm that fits with one of the 6 standard sizes of the Auto-Adjustable MOBIDERM® Autofit armsleeve provided
• Signed informed consent prior to any study-mandated procedure
• Affiliated to the General regime of the Social Security or covered by a similar health insurance system

Non-inclusion criteria :

• Stage I lymphedema or located in several places
• Active cellulitis / Infectious dermo-hypodermatitis
• Lymphedema associated with active cancer needing acute chemotherapy
• Motor and sensitive neurological deficiency / psychiatric or addictive disorders
• Post-operative edema (i.e acute edema occurring during the days following breast cancer-related surgery)
• Patients for whom compression is contraindicated, such as untreated infections, skin irritation, thrombosis, presence of skin lesions on the armsleeve placement
• Pregnant or breastfeeding patient
• Previous history of hypersensitivity to MOBIDERM® technology or lymphatrex garment General conditions
• Participation to any other clinical study which has an impact on the different endpoints
• Unlikely to be followed up to 3 months with clinical assessment as per investigator's judgment
• Vulnerable patient according to the article L.1121-6 of the French Public Health Code, the adults being the object of a legal protective measure or enable to express their consent according to the article L.1121-8 of French Public Health Code