Lipedema is associated with increased aortic stiffness.

Resource type
Authors/contributors
Title
Lipedema is associated with increased aortic stiffness.
Abstract
Lipedema is a disproportional obesity due to unknown pathomechanism. Its major hallmark is frequent hematoma formation related to increased capillary fragility and reduced venoarterial reflex. Beyond microangiopathy, both venous and lymphatic dysfunction have also been documented. However, arterial circulation in lipedema has not been examined, and therefore we explored aortic elastic properties by echocardiography. Fourteen women with and 14 without lipedema were included in the study. Each subject consented to blood pressure measurement, physical examination, and transthoracic echocardiography. Aortic stiffness index (beta), distensibility, and strain were evaluated from aortic diameter and blood pressure data. Mean systolic (30.0 +/- 3.2 vs. 25.5 +/- 3.6, P < 0.05) and diastolic (27.8 +/- 3.3 vs. 22.3 +/- 3.1) aortic diameters (in mm) and aortic stiffness index (9.05 +/- 7.45 vs. 3.76 +/- 1.22, P < 0.05) were significantly higher, while aortic strain (0.082 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.143 +/- 0.038, P < 0.05) and distensibility (2.24 +/- 1.07 vs. 4.38 +/- 1.61, P < 0.05) were significantly lower in lipedematous patients compared to controls. Thus, lipedema is characterized with increased aortic stiffness.
Publication
Lymphology
Volume
45
Issue
2
Pages
71-79
Date
2012 Jun
Journal Abbr
Lymphology
Language
eng
ISSN
0024-7766 0024-7766
Extra
Place: United States
Citation
Szolnoky, G., Nemes, A., Gavallér, H., Forster, T., & Kemény, L. (2012). Lipedema is associated with increased aortic stiffness. Lymphology, 45(2), 71–79.