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A 22 yr old woman with bilateral symmetrical enlargement of her lower extremities since the age of 11 is reported. A diagnosis of lipedema of the legs was made on the basis of history, physical examination, biopsy and phlebography. Lipedema of the legs should be included in the differential diagnosis of symmetrical nonpitting edematous lower extremities. According to Allen and Hines, the characteristic points to be made for a diagnosis of lipedema of the legs included the following: almost exclusively seen in women; always bilateral and symmetrical with minimal involvement of the feet; minimal to absent pitting edems; all parts of the limbs are involved simultaneously; persistent enlargement despite elevation of the extremities. 16% of their patients gave a family history of the disorder; 40% complained of pain in the lower extremities; and approximately half of the patients were obese. The age of onset was variable, from childhood to the sixth or seventh decade. There was no racial preponderance. No patient gave a history compatible with progressive lipodystrophy. Treatment included diet, diuretics, tight stockings, rest and elevation, and massage, but was unsatisfactory in most cases.

Lipoedema was first described by Allen and Hines (1940), and it is characterised by fat legs and orthostatic edema. Generalised obesity may be presend or absent, the mean weight of five illustrative patients in their paper ws 154.5 lbs. Allen and his co-workers (1951) then reported 119 cases of lipoedema at the Mayo Clinic from 1937 to 1946. The condition affects women almost exclusively. Hines (1952) states that the diagnosis of lipoedema can be made easily from observation: (1) The characteristic symmetrical distribution of fat in the lower half of the body, excepting the feet, and (2) the oedema of varying degrees in the more dependent portions of the legs. The condition is briefly mentioned by Martin et al. (1956). The condition is often confused with vascular diseases affecting lower extremities, and lymphoedema (Wold et al., 1951). Furthermore, these workers consider that lipoedema can be distinguished from lipodystrophy progressiva by the extensive loss of subcutaneous fat in the upper half of the body associated with deposition of fat in the buttocks and lower extremities (Whittle, 1944). Two patients are presented with lipoedema, associated with diabetes mellitus. The possibility that lipoedema may be a variatn of lipodystrophy progressive is discussed.

1. Lipoedema is described with an illustration of a recent case. 2. This condition should be distinguished from lymphoedema of the legs. 3. The differential diagnosis is discussed. 4. Comment is made on treatment.

« La parenté de l'ædeme chronique avec la lipomatose a depuis long lemps frappé les auteurs » ( 1 ) . Le cas actuel que nous publions aujourd'hui, après l'avoir présenté en quelques mots à la Société de Neurologie ( 2) , vient à l'appui de celle rollesion Ichard et L. Lévi. OBSERVATION ( PI. LXV ). Il s'agit d'une brodeuse de 39 ans, Mlle Eugénie B ... 1, venue à notre consul tation de l'hôpital Laënnec pour grosseur anormale des membres inférieurs . Antécédenis héréditaires -- La mère est morte à 25 ans, de tuberculose aiguë (alcoolisme possible). Son père est mort à 56 ans, très probablement d'un cancer du pylore. Eugénie B ... a une scur âgée de 41 ans, bien portante. Une de ses tantes aurait eu , pendant longtemps, de la difficulté à marcher . Antécédents personnels. -- Mile B ... n'a jamais été malade. Elle se souvient que, vers l'âge de 8 ans, elle avait déjà de gros mollets qui faisaient l'admira tion de ses camarades ; néanmoins, en promenade, elle se fatiguait plus vite que ses compagnes. Elle n'a jamais ressenti de douleurs vives dans les mem bres inférieurs. A 14 ans ses règles apparaissent régulières, avec un peu de dysmenorrhée. A 22 ans,, elle s'aperçoit que, sans aucun doute, ses jambes grossissent et non le reste du corps . L'ordème aurait envahi, par étapes, les jambes, les cuisses et les fesses . Elle est examinée et traitée à Lille , à Amiens et à Paris. A Lille elle prend de la tyroïdine ( 2 pilules par jour) , et de l'iode , pendant 15 jours . Elle maigrit sous l'influence de ce traitement.

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; adéno-lipomatose symétrique à prédominance cervicale, Launois and Bensaude). Group V. Neuropathic edema, pseudoedema, pseudolipoma and lipoma. Group VI. Adipositas cerebralis (Fröhlich, 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.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

Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Easily share your publications and get them in front of Issuu’s millions of monthly readers. Title: 2022 Report of the International Lipoedema Association Diagnosis Working Group, Author: Canadian Lymphedema Framework, Length: 15 pages, Page: 1, Published: 2023-10-25

<p>INTRODUCTION: Lipedema is a progressive connective tissue disease with enlargement of adipose tissue, fibrosis, fluid collection and dermal thickening. Herein, we present a case of lipedema associated with skin hypoperfusion and ulceration in which soft tissue debulking with liposuction improved patients’ symptoms. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old female presented with asymmetric progressive initially unilateral lower limb swelling with severe pain with subsequent skin ulceration. Conservative management have failed to improve her condition. After excluding other causes and detailed radiologic investigation, lipedema was diagnosed with an associated impaired skin perfusion. Trial of local wound care and compression therapy failed to improve the condition. Subsequent soft tissue debulking with circumferential liposuction and ulcer debridement and immediate compression showed dramatic improvement of the symptoms and skin perfusion. DISCUSSION: The unique nature of this case shed light on lipedema as a loose connective tissue disease. Inflammation and microangiopathies explains the associated pain with hypoperfusion and ulceration being quite atypical and in part might be related to the large buildups of matrix proteins and sodium contents leading to micro-vessels fragility with frequent petechiae and hematoma and subsequent tissue ischemia. Conservative measures like compression therapy plays a significant role in disease course. Surgical debulking with liposuction was shown to be efficacious in reducing the soft tissue load with improvement in limb pain, edema, circumference and skin perfusion that was seen in our patient. CONCLUSION: Lipedema is a frequently misdiagnosed condition with disabling features. Skin involvement in lipedema with potential hypoperfusion was shown and it requires further investigation</p>

Lipedema is a chronic disease in adipose tissue affecting women. The distinctive body appearance in lipedema, often mistaken for obesity, may be detrimental to social life. In our online cross-sectional survey study, conducted from June to September 2021 among 245 women with lipedema, we found significantly more health-related stigma compared to an aged-matched general female population (N = 1872), leading to an overall lower quality of life. Conversely, strong social support was associated with better social and emotional functioning. As such, healthcare professionals must, even in the early stages, recognize this disease and address its impact on psychosocial health and well-being.

Aim To explore the experiences of sexual health and intimate relationships in women with lipedema. Design A qualitative interview study. Methods Sixteen women with lipedema recruited from a national lipedema association group in Sweden participated. Data were collected between October 2023 and February 2024 and analysed using content analysis. Results Four main categories were identified. Being burdened by body shame highlighted the women's body dissatisfaction, difficulties in self-acceptance and shame when being naked in front of their partners. Being hindered by an aching and heavy body captured the experiences of bodily pain and heaviness in intimate situations. Being torn between desire and avoidance revealed that the women longed for intimacy but adopted different strategies to avoid it. Being affected by what is said and what is left unsaid showed the role of the partner's approach as well as the strain of not discussing sexual problems with partners or healthcare providers. Conclusion Women with lipedema experience physical, psychological and relational challenges in sexual life and intimacy. Still, these challenges remain unaddressed in healthcare settings. Implications for the Profession and Patient Care Nurses and midwives should, in their unique role in encountering women throughout their lifespans, address and invite dialogues on sexual-related concerns of women affected by lipedema. Impact The study findings provide insights into how lipedema affects women's sexual health and intimate relationships and offer new knowledge that can be applied when planning targeted interventions to promote the sexual health and well-being of women with lipedema. Reporting Method Adherence to the EQUATOR guidelines and COREQ checklist. Patient or Public Contribution Two patient representatives from a lipedema association group contributed to this study by distributing study information to their members.