Lipedema of the legs: a syndrome characterized by fat legs and edema
01 May 1951-Annals of Internal Medicine (American College of Physicians)-Vol. 34, Iss: 5, pp 1243-1250
TL;DR: There is little in the literature on abnormal localized depositions of body fat to clarify the syndrome of lipedema of the legs, but two of us (E. V. and E. A. H.) described it in 1940.
Abstract: Excerpt There is little in the literature on abnormal localized depositions of body fat to clarify the syndrome of lipedema of the legs which two of us (E. V. A. and E. A. H.) described in 1940.1Co...
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: It is proposed that lipedema is a genetic condition with either X‐linked dominant inheritance or more likely, autosomal dominant inheritance with sex limitation, and appears to be a condition almost exclusively affecting females, presumably estrogen‐requiring as it usually manifests at puberty.
Abstract: Lipedema is a condition characterized by swelling and enlargement of the lower limbs due to abnormal deposition of subcutaneous fat. Lipedema is an under-recognized condition, often misdiagnosed as lymphedema or dismissed as simple obesity. We present a series of pedigrees and propose that lipedema is a genetic condition with either X-linked dominant inheritance or more likely, autosomal dominant inheritance with sex limitation. Lipedema appears to be a condition almost exclusively affecting females, presumably estrogen-requiring as it usually manifests at puberty. Lipedema is an entity distinct from obesity, but may be wrongly diagnosed as primary obesity, due to clinical overlap. The phenotype suggests a condition distinct from obesity and associated with pain, tenderness, and easy bruising in affected areas.
169 citations
Cites background from "Lipedema of the legs: a syndrome ch..."
...Affected individuals develop bilateral and symmetrical ‘‘fatty’’ non-pitting swelling usually confined to the legs and hips [Wold et al., 1951]....
[...]
TL;DR: In this article, lymphatic decongestive therapy, medications and supplements are recommended to reduce the abnormal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of rare adipose disorders.
Abstract: Rare adipose disorders (RADs) including multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL), lipedema and Dercum's disease (DD) may be misdiagnosed as obesity. Lifestyle changes, such as reduced caloric intake and increased physical activity are standard care for obesity. Although lifestyle changes and bariatric surgery work effectively for the obesity component of RADs, these treatments do not routinely reduce the abnormal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of RADs. RAD SAT likely results from the growth of a brown stem cell population with secondary lymphatic dysfunction in MSL, or by primary vascular and lymphatic dysfunction in lipedema and DD. People with RADs do not lose SAT from caloric limitation and increased energy expenditure alone. In order to improve recognition of RADs apart from obesity, the diagnostic criteria, histology and pathophysiology of RADs are presented and contrasted to familial partial lipodystrophies, acquired partial lipodystrophies and obesity with which they may be confused. Treatment recommendations focus on evidence-based data and include lymphatic decongestive therapy, medications and supplements that support loss of RAD SAT. Associated RAD conditions including depression, anxiety and pain will improve as healthcare providers learn to identify and adopt alternative treatment regimens for the abnormal SAT component of RADs. Effective dietary and exercise regimens are needed in RAD populations to improve quality of life and construct advanced treatment regimens for future generations.
123 citations
TL;DR: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care to enhance the learner's competence in caring for patients with lipedema through understanding the differential diagnoses, pathophysiology, and treatment/management options.
Abstract: Purpose To enhance the learner's competence in caring for patients with lipedema through understanding the differential diagnoses, pathophysiology, and treatment/management options. Target audience This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care. Objectives After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to: 1. Differentiate lipedema from other similar diagnoses. 2. Tell patients with lipedema and their caregivers about treatment of this condition. 3. Construct assessments, treatment plans, and management options for patients with lipedema.
112 citations
Cites background from "Lipedema of the legs: a syndrome ch..."
...The condition almost exclusively affects women, with only 2 cases reported for men in the literature.(10,11) Indeed, over a 10-year period in the authors’ lymphedema clinic, only 1 male patient with lipedema has been observed (Figure 1)....
[...]
...Patients may report other female family members being affected, with the incidence of familial patterns in the literature varying from 16% to 45%.(10,13,15) This assessment can be difficult to make as it includes asking the question, ‘‘Who has big legs in your family?’’ rather than asking about who is overweight....
[...]
...The failure of bed rest to reduce the size of the legs indicates that most of the leg enlargement is due to the fatty deposits, not the edema.(10) The condition almost exclusively affects women, with only 2 cases reported for men in the literature....
[...]
TL;DR: The current knowledge of the mechanisms by which defective lymphatics contribute to obesity and fat accumulation in mouse models are reviewed, as well as the understanding of the lymphatic-adipose tissue relationship is reviewed.
112 citations
Cites background from "Lipedema of the legs: a syndrome ch..."
...Lipedema was first described in 1940 by Allen and Hines and was characterized as a ‘‘lipodystrophy’’ (Wold et al., 1951)....
[...]
...Lipedema was first described in 1940 by Allen and Hines and was characterized as a ‘‘lipodystro- phy’’ (Wold et al., 1951)....
[...]
...Lipedema is a chronic vascular disease characterized by bilateral and symmetrical swelling in the legs due to the deposit of subcutaneous adipose tissue (Bilancini et al., 1995; Lohrmann et al., 2009; Wold et al., 1951)....
[...]
TL;DR: Clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, technical investigations, management and therapies of lipoedema are described, with the aim of optimizing management and care of patients with lipoingema.
Abstract: Lipoedema is an infrequently recognized disorder in women. Lipoedema is characterized by bilateral enlargement of the legs due to abnormal depositions of subcutaneous fat associated with often mild oedema. There is substantial variability in disease severity. The diagnosis should be made as early as possible to prevent complications of the disorder, which is associated with increasing functional and cosmetic morbidity. This review describes clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, technical investigations, management and therapies of lipoedema, with the aim of optimizing management and care of patients with lipoedema.
107 citations
References
More filters
TL;DR: The object of this study is to simplify or unify the clinical classification of abnormal subcutaneous fat deposits by correlating the symptomatology and constitutional relations common to the several varieties or clinical groups that have been separated under descriptive designations according to their predominant characteristics.
Abstract: Synopsis Introduction. Personal observations (20 cases, 19 photographs). Consideration of special clinical varieties or syndromes—groups of cases. Group I. Adiposis dolorosa. Group II. Obesity. Group III. Nodular circumscribed lipomatosis. Group IV. Diffuse symmetrical lipomatosis ( Fetthals , Madelung; adeno-lipomatose symetrique a predominance cervicale , Launois and Bensaude). Group V. Neuropathic edema, pseudoedema, pseudolipoma and lipoma. Group VI. Adipositas cerebralis (Frohlich, Madelung and others). Consideration of the combined groups. General summary (including special subjects, arthritism, heredity, etc.). Etiology (including glands of internal secretion). Treatment. Conclusions. Bibliography. INTRODUCTION The object of this study is to simplify or unify the clinical classification of abnormal subcutaneous fat deposits by correlating the symptomatology and constitutional relations common to the several varieties or clinical groups that have been separated under descriptive designations according to their predominant characteristics. It is with special reference to Dercum's ``adiposis dolorosa'' that this study is undertaken. I shall
59 citations
TL;DR: For instance, the German edition of Das Weib as discussed by the authors has a considerable reputation on the Continent, in Great Britain and in the United States, and the later editors revised and enlarged the book originally written by Dr. H. Ploss and added numerous new illustrations.
Abstract: FOR fifty years the various editions of “Das Weib” have had a considerable reputation on the Continent, in Great Britain and in the United States. The later editors revised and enlarged the book originally written by Dr. H. H. Ploss and added numerous new illustrations, and it has thus become a unique compilation on womankind. Hitherto there has been no English translation, but now English students can study with ease the accumulated data of the eleventh edition. This work, however, is not a mere translation, as the English editor, Dr. E. J. Dingwall, has made corrections and added supplementary matter, thus bringing it up to date so far as was possible. This laborious task has been performed in a most praiseworthy manner, and we have also to thank him for the very extensive bibliography. A noticeable feature of the work is the excellence of the illustrations, which are more than a thousand in number, but some of them could easily have been dispensed with. Loaded paper is used throughout on account of the illustrations and this makes the volumes uncomfortably heavy to hold; vol. 2 weighs nearly 6 lb. Woman: an Historical, Gynaecological and Anthropological Compendium
By Hermann Heinrich Ploss Max Bartels Paul Bartels. Edited by Eric John Dingwall Vol. 1. Pp. xiii + 655. Vol.2. Pp. xii + 822. Vol.3. Pp. viii + 543. (London: William Heinemann (Medical Books), Ltd., 1935.) 3 vols., $8 8s. 0d. net.
6 citations
"Lipedema of the legs: a syndrome ch..." refers background in this paper
..."(6) As a digression, it is worthy of comment that steatopygia (fat buttocks) is considered a manifestation of beauty among the Hottentots.(7) The syndrome which we shall consider in this presentation is definitely not considered a manifestation of beauty in modern "civilized" living....
[...]
01 Dec 1928
TL;DR: In this paper, a fall von Lipodystrophia progressiva with hypertrophie eines Beines beschrieben, der sicher mitovariellen Storungen zusammenhangt.
Abstract: Es wird ein Fall vonLipodystrophia progressiva mitHypertrophie eines Beines beschrieben, der sicher mitovariellen Storungen zusammenhangt. Auchfamiliare (konstitutionelle) Einflusse sind nicht auszuschliesen. Es wird die Hypothese aufgestellt, das derFettschwund der oberen Korperpartien auf einer unbekannten Ursache, dieFetthypertrophie der unteren auf Hinzutreten von Keimdruseneinflussen beruht. Es werden 2 Formen unterschieden: dieinfantile (unbekannte Atiologie, Epiphyse ? Thyreoidea ? vorwiegend Lipoatrophie) und diejuvenile Form (Keimdrusenatiologie, vorwiegend Lipohypertrophie).
5 citations