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<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>

Background: Lipedema is characterized by disproportionate gluteofemoral adiposity, often regarded as a metabolic sink, yet its relationship with systemic autoimmunity, specifically celiac disease (CD), remains unexplored. Objective: We investigated the immunometabolic profiles and body composition patterns distinguishing lipedema phenotypes from celiac disease autoimmunity. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 3,833 women from NHANES 2011–2014. Celiac disease was defined by strict serology (tTG-IgA+ and EMA-IgA+), while the lipedema phenotype was defined as a leg-to-trunk fat ratio >90th percentile via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We assessed gynoid fat mass, HOMA-IR, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) compared to controls. Results: CD prevalence was 0.56% (n=11). Women with CD exhibited significantly lower gynoid region percent fat compared to non-celiacs (39.5% vs. 42.6%, p=0.0007). Conversely, the lipedema phenotype was associated with a distinct anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitive profile, characterized by 44.2% lower HOMA-IR (p<0.001) and 7.6% lower NLR (p=0.012) compared to controls. While broad lipedema criteria did not reach statistical significance for CD exclusion due to low case numbers (p=0.570), no celiac cases were observed in the highest tier of gynoid adiposity. Conclusions: Although prevalence differences did not reach statistical significance, this study of US women demonstrates a phenotypic divergence where celiac disease is associated with reduced gynoid adiposity, contrasting with the superior immunometabolic profile observed in the lipedema phenotype. These findings suggest that these conditions represent opposing physiological states regarding gynoid adipose tissue function.

Lymph node (LN) lipomatosis is a common but rarely discussed phenomenon associated with aging that involves a gradual exchange of the LN parenchyma into adipose tissue. The mechanisms behind these changes and the effects on the LN are unknown. We show that LN lipomatosis starts in the medullary regions of the human LN and link the initiation of lipomatosis to transdifferentiation of LN fibroblasts into adipocytes. The latter is associated with a downregulation of lymphotoxin beta expression. We also show that isolated medullary and CD34+ fibroblasts, in contrast to the reticular cells of the T-cell zone, display an inherently higher sensitivity for adipogenesis. Progression of lipomatosis leads to a gradual loss of the medullary lymphatic network, but at later stages, collecting-like lymphatic vessels are found inside the adipose tissue. The stromal dysregulation includes a dramatic remodeling and dilation of the high endothelial venules associated with reduced density of naïve T-cells. Abnormal clustering of plasma cells is also observed. Thus, LN lipomatosis causes widespread stromal dysfunction with consequences for the immune contexture of the human LN. Our data warrant an increased awareness of LN lipomatosis as a factor contributing to decreased immune functions in the elderly and in disease. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Lipedema is a chronic, progressive disorder of adipose tissue that predominantly affects women, characterized by symmetrical fat accumulation in the extremities, pain, and resistance to caloric restriction. Recent insights suggest that lipedema represents a hormone-driven gynecological fat disorder, in which estrogen receptor (ER) imbalance plays a central role. The predominance of ERβ activity and suppression of ERα signaling are hypothesized to drive adipose hypertrophy, fibrosis, and inflammation, particularly in the context of intracrine estradiol excess. This model aligns lipedema with other estrogen-sensitive conditions, such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids, and provides a novel framework for understanding its pathophysiology. Therapeutically, this reframing opens new perspectives for hormonal modulation using selective progestins (drospirenone, gestrinone) and metabolic adjuncts such as tirzepatide, beyond the current symptomatic or surgical approaches.

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.

Lipoedema is a chronic disease with various manifestation of symptoms, related to excessive deposition of subcutaneous adipose tissue in the legs, hips and buttocks. The scale of the problem is enormous and may affect up to one in five women. Lipoedema is often underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed with lymphedema, obesity or lipohypertrophy. In recent years, lipoedema has been diagnosed in an increasing number of younger women, and its first symptoms may manifest already in puberty. Even though it is often perceived as only an aesthetic problem, it has a huge impact on the quality of life, mental health, self-esteem or self-confidence. Moreover, lipoedema causes stigmatization, unfortunately also in healthcare professionals. Nevertheless, recently, diagnostic criteria (also ultrasound) have been created, and lipoedema has been classified in ICD-10 (E88.2). There are also more and more treatment options, with emphasis on the role of psychological care. Awareness and knowledge of lipoedema have also increased despite its underestimation but still is not enough. The multidimensional nature of lipoedema and its impact on many aspects of life highlights the essential role of comprehensive support to patients. Nowadays, in times of caring for mental health, it is crucial to increase public awareness and spread knowledge about lipoedema.

Background: Lipedema is a chronic disorder characterized by symmetrical and disproportionate fat accumulation, pain, and easy bruising, often resistant to conventional treatments. Functional dysmetria (FD), a maladaptive neuromotor response linked to epigenetic stress, has been proposed as a relevant contributor to pain in lipedema., Objective: This retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate whether correcting FD through the radioelectric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) technology Neuropostural Optimization (NPO) protocol can reduce pain in patients with lipedema, using a sham-controlled design., Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 83 consecutive women with stage 2-5 lipedema underwent both sham and real NPO procedures during a single session. Pain intensity was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) immediately after each procedure. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-tests with effect sizes (Cohen’s dz) and 95% confidence intervals., Results: Baseline pain was uniformly high (mean 7.41 ± 0.53), with some pre-sham values reaching 10/10. Pain reduction was observed exclusively after real NPO and not after sham. Sham NPO induced no significant changes, whereas real NPO yielded a mean pain reduction exceeding 3.5 VAS points across all stages (mean change -3.65 ± 0.62; 95% CI: -3.79 to -3.51; Cohen’s dz = 5.88, 95% CI: 4.85-6.92; p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: These findings suggest that correction of FD by REAC NPO provides rapid and clinically meaningful analgesic effects in lipedema patients, addressing an upstream neuropsychomotor dysfunction that may contribute to disease progression. However, given the retrospective single-center design and absence of long-term follow-up, these conclusions are limited to the short-term effects observed. Further multicenter and longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these results and evaluate long-term outcomes.