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Lipedema of the lower extremities are diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings . An exact differentiation is necessary since therapeutical considerations are depending on the pathophysiology of the diseases. In lipedema (Allen and Hines) as weil as in erythrocyanosis cruris puellarum (Klingmüller) an examination of the state of the lymphatic vessels is justified. Using isotope lymphography the lymphatic capacitY, of the lower extremities can be assessed without problem. As demonstrated a disturbance of lymphatic transport is not regularly present in these two syndroms. Therefore we can not consider them as lymphedema. The frequent appearance of unilateral lymphostasis with definite clinical differenccs of both extremities indicate on the other band that lipedema is not seldom superimposed by the lymphedema .

Patients with lipoedema of the typus rusticanus Moncorps show a skin elasticity deficit of the skin of the calf. This is partly due to the derma oedema in the skin of these patients and seems partly to be due to an intrinsic connective tissue defect in the skin of such patients. The auteurs put forward the hypothesis that also present calf muscle pump dysfunction in these patients is the result of a connective tissue defect of the fascia of the muscular compartment, as an expression of a more generalized connective tissue defect.

Two cases of lipedema are presented. They illustrate this clinical syndrome which occurs almost exclusively in women and presents as grossly enlarged legs, thighs and buttocks. The etiology remains uncertain. Although infrequently diagnosed, lipedema is not rare. We report success treating such patients with properly measured and fitted compression garments.

La classification des lymphoedèmes en diverses catégories étiologiques est importante autant pour le diagnostic que pour un programme thérapeutique correct. L'approche diagnostique idéale doit Par conséquent envisager toutes les conditions, autant congénitales qu'acquises, responsables de la perturbation de la circulation lymphatique. Dans toutes les formes l'anamnèse est d'intérêt fondamental pour arriver au diagnostic étiologique alors qdu' e l'exame n c1 m· 1· que su ffii t a· poser le si·m ple iagnostic de lymphoedème.

Lipedema of the legs is a symmetrical thickening of upper and lower leg and topically accentuated fat pads. The back of the foot is usually free of swelling. Pathogenetically it is a disturbance of the distribution pattern of subcutaneous fat tissue. Epidemiologically, the subjects affected are women, starting from puberty. Weight reduction programs do not influence the real deformations. If this abnormal fat tissue is infiltrated by angiological diseases, these manifest themselves in modified form. In particular, all the symptoms are more painful. In arterial ischemic syndromes that taut skin is susceptible to necrosis at atypical locations. For reconstruction of trunk arteries it is advisable to bypass larger bulges for better wound nealing. Venous strips should be peeled out away from fat pads and venous-bridges very carefully to protect the tissue. Acute and chronic phlebothrombosis lead to unusual and asymmetrical forms of swelling. The venous ulcer lies directly beneath a fat-muff in the gaiter region. Since they are hard to compress, free skin transplants should be considered early in the course of development. Surgery of varicose veins calls for most careful technique to ensure wound healing. From the lymphological viewpoint there are clinically and lymphographically mixed forms of lymphedema with lipedema.

This condition, which has the full name of 'erythrocyanosis frigida crurum puella rum' (cold reddish blueness of the legs of girls), is extremely common. It is not always recognized, being misdiagnosed as lymphoedema, vasomotor disease, arterial insufficiency, and other things. The skin of the legs is cold to the touch and exhibits patches of bluish discoloration. There may be chilblains and small superficial ulcerated areas. There is often an abnormally large amount of fat particularly above the ankle and around the tendo Achillis. For this reason it is sometimes called ' lipoedema'. The affected patches are often hypersensitive to light touch and may irritate with changes of temperature. Deeper palpation may reveal tenderness and nodularity of the underlying fat. The condition is usually symmetrical or alsmost so. The feet often remain normal. At typical case is illustrated in Figs. 14.22 and 14.23

While the term cellulitis is incorrect, it is commonly used and deserves a nosological classification. "Cellulitis is a dermohypodermosis and an oedemato-sclerous panniculopathy- It is indeed a true histangiography in which the fibroblastic reaction predominates over capillaro-veinular changes. Adipocytes of exaggerated size interpenetrate into micro- and later into macronodules marked off by more or less structured conjunctive fibrilla, thereby making treatment difficult.

Systemic causes of leg edema include idiopathic cyclic edema, heart failure, cirrhosis, nephrosis and other hypoproteinemic states. Lymphedema may be primary, or secondary to neoplasm, lymphangitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis and, rarely (in the U.S.), filariasis. Thrombophlebitis and chronic venous insufficiency are not uncommon causes. Finally, infection, ischemia, lipedema, vascular anomalies, tumors and trauma can be responsible for the swollen leg.

To the Editor.— I do not believe that Stallworth et al (228:1656, 1974) have proven their case for a definite clinical entity of "lipedema" in the patients described.The plasma lipid values seem high, but are of no significance unless the controls were patients of comparable sex, age, and mean weight; this is not stated. The origin of tissue lipid values would similarly have to be a group of middle-aged, overweight patients with fat legs but no symptoms, to make their figures valid.I have seen and treated many patients with a clinical picture identical with that described in their paper. Many of these patients have clinical evidence of past phlebitis; others do not. Both groups have episodes of painful, lumpy swellings in their legs, that may be accompanied by redness, heat, and tenderness in the affected areas. This picture frequently takes many weeks to resolve and may leave some ...

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.