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Lipedema is a chronic progressive disease characterized by abnormal fat distribution resulting in disproportionate, painful limbs. It almost exclusively affects women, leading to considerable disability, daily functioning impairment, and psychosocial distress. Literature shows both scarce and conflicting data regarding its prevalence. Lipedema has been considered a rare entity by several authors, though it may be a far more frequent condition than thought. Despite the clinical impact on women's health, lipedema is in fact mostly unknown, underdiagnosed, and too often misdiagnosed with other similarly presenting diseases. Polygenic susceptibility combined with hormonal, microvascular, and lymphatic disorders may be partly responsible for its development. Furthermore, consistent information on lipedema pathophysiology is still lacking, and an etiological treatment is not yet available. Weight loss measures exhibit minimal effect on the abnormal body fat distribution, resulting in eating disorders, increased obesity risk, depression, and other psychological complaints. Surgical techniques, such as liposuction and excisional lipectomy, represent therapeutic options in selected cases. This review aims to outline current evidence regarding lipedema epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and management. Increased awareness and a better understanding of its clinical presentation and pathophysiology are warranted to enable clinicians to diagnose and treat affected patients at an earlier stage.

Lipedema is a chronic progressive disease characterized by abnormal fat distribution resulting in disproportionate, painful limbs. It almost exclusively affects women, leading to considerable disability, daily functioning impairment, and psychosocial distress. Literature shows both scarce and conflicting data regarding its prevalence. Lipedema has been considered a rare entity by several authors, though it may be a far more frequent condition than thought. Despite the clinical impact on women's health, lipedema is in fact mostly unknown, underdiagnosed, and too often misdiagnosed with other similarly presenting diseases. Polygenic susceptibility combined with hormonal, microvascular, and lymphatic disorders may be partly responsible for its development. Furthermore, consistent information on lipedema pathophysiology is still lacking, and an etiological treatment is not yet available. Weight loss measures exhibit minimal effect on the abnormal body fat distribution, resulting in eating disorders, increased obesity risk, depression, and other psychological complaints. Surgical techniques, such as liposuction and excisional lipectomy, represent therapeutic options in selected cases. This review aims to outline current evidence regarding lipedema epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and management. Increased awareness and a better understanding of its clinical presentation and pathophysiology are warranted to enable clinicians to diagnose and treat affected patients at an earlier stage.

BACKGROUND: Adipose-derived Stem Cells (ASCs) present great potential for reconstructive procedures. Currently, isolation by enzyme digestion and culturing using xenogenic substances remain the gold standard, impairing clinical use. METHODS: Abdominal lipo-aspirate and blood samples were obtained from healthy patients. A novel mechanical isolation method for ASCs was compared to (the standard) collagenase digestion. ASCs are examined by flowcytometry and multilineage differentiation assays. Cell cultures were performed without xenogenic or toxic substances, using autologous plasma extracted from peripheral blood. After eGFP-transfection, an in vivo differentiation assay was performed. RESULTS: Mechanical isolation is more successful in isolating CD34+/CD31-/CD45-/CD13+/CD73+/CD146- ASCs from lipo-aspirate than isolation via collagenase digestion (p <0 .05). ASCs display multilineage differentiation potential in vitro. Autologous plasma is a valid additive for ASCs culturing. eGFP-ASCs, retrieved after 3 months in vivo, differentiated in adipocytes and endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: A practical method for human ASC isolation and culturing from abdominal lipo-aspirate, without the addition of xenogenic substances, is described. The mechanical protocol is more successful than the current gold standard protocol of enzyme digestion. These results are important in the translation of laboratory-based cell cultures to clinical reconstructive and aesthetic applications.

Background: Sonographic findings differ in patients with primary lipedema from those with lymphedema. This project was designed to quantify those differences and objectively characterize findings of lipedema and lymphedema in the lower extremity. Methods and Results: Patients with a clinical diagnosis of ISL stage I-II lipedema or lower extremity lymphedema that received ultrasound evaluation were included in this study. Thickness and echogenicity of the skin and subcutaneous fat layer were measured at the level of the ankle, calf, and thigh in each patient. The cohort analyzed included 12 patients with lipedema (12 lower extremities) and 10 patients with unilateral lymphedema (10 lower extremities with lymphedema and 8 lower extremities used as controls). Mean skin thickness of the ankle and calf was greatest in the lymphedema group compared to those with lipedema or controls (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). The mean thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer of the thigh was greatest in those with lipedema (p < 0.01). Mean dermal to subcutaneous fat echogenicity ratio was decreased in those with lymphedema (ankle, 0.91; calf, 1.05; thigh, 1.19) compared to lipedema (ankle, 1.36; calf, 1.58; thigh, 1.54) and control (ankle, 1.26; calf, 1.54; thigh, 1.56) (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, and p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: Lymphedema appears to be associated with increased skin thickness and dermal hypoechogenicity, particularly in the distal lower extremity, compared to lipedema or controls. Conversely, lipedema may be associated with increased thickness and hypoechogenicity of the subcutaneous fat. Overall, these findings suggest that ultrasound may be an effective tool to differentiate these diseases and potentially guide treatment.

Syndromes with localized accumulation of subcutaneous fatty tissue belong to a group of genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorders. These diseases may show some common signs, such as nodular fat, symmetrical fat masses, obesity, fatigue, lymphedema and symmetrical lipomas (painful or otherwise). Other symptoms may be specific for the different clinical entities, enabling correct differential diagnosis. Disorders belonging to this spectrum are lipedema, generalized diffuse or nodular forms of Dercum disease, localized nodular Dercum disease and multiple symmetric lipomatosis. Here we summarize the genes involved in syndromes with localized accumulation of subcutaneous fat and the test we use for genetic analysis.

Background: Although lipedema is often clinically distinguished from lymphedema, there is considerable overlap between the 2 entities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate lymphoscintigraphic findings in patients with lipedema to better characterize lymphatic flow in this patient population. Methods: This is an updated 4 year experience containing significant new information of patients with lipedema receiving lymphoscintigraphy at our institution between January 2015 and October 2017. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and lymphoscintigraphic findings were extracted. Klienhan’s transport index (TI) was utilized to assess lymphatic flow in patient’s lower extremities (LEs). Scores range from 0-45, with values >10 denoting pathologic lymphatic transport. Results: 19 total patients with lipedema underwent lymphoscintigraphic evaluation. Mean age was 54.8 and mean BMI was 35.9 kg/m2. Severity of lipedema was classified as stage 1 in 5 patients (26.3%), stage 2 in 4 patients (21.1%), stage 3 in 4 patients (21.1%), and stage 4 in 6 patients (31.6%). The mean TI for all extremities was 12.5. 24 (63.2%) LEs had a pathologic TI , including 7 LEs with stage 1 (29.2%), 3 LEs with stage 2 (12.5%), 6 LEs with stage 3 (25.0%), and 8 LEs with stage 4 lipedema (33.3%). The mean TI was significantly greater for extremities with severe (stage 3/4) lipedema than those with mild or moderate (stage 1/2) lipedema (15.1 vs. 9.7, p=0.049). Mean difference in TI scores between each LE for individual patients was 6.43 (SD 7.96). Conclusions: Our results suggest that patients with lipedema have impaired lymphatic transport, and more severe lipedema may be associated with greater lymphatic transport abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: Lipedema is characterized by localized accumulation of fat in the extremities, which is typically unresponsive to dietary regimens or physical activity. Although the disease is well described and has a high incidence, little is known regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathophysiology of lipedema adipose cells in vitro. METHODS: Adipose-derived stem cells were isolated from lipoaspirates derived from lipedema and nonlipedema patients undergoing tumescent liposuction. In vitro differentiation studies were performed for up to 14 days using adipogenic or regular culture medium. Supernatants and cell lysates were tested for adiponectin, leptin, insulin-like growth factor-1, aromatase (CYP19A1), and interleukin-8 content at days 7 and 14, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Adipogenesis was evaluated by visualizing and measuring cytoplasmic lipid accumulation. RESULTS: Lipedema adipose-derived stem cells showed impeded adipogenesis already at early stages of in vitro differentiation. Concomitant with a strongly reduced cytoplasmic lipid accumulation, significantly lower amounts of adiponectin and leptin were detectable in supernatants from lipedema adipose-derived stem cells and adipocytes compared with control cells. In addition, lipedema and nonlipedema cells differed in their expression of insulin-like growth factor-1, aromatase (CYP19A1), and interleukin-8 and in their proliferative activity. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' findings indicate that in vitro adipogenesis of lipedema adipose-derived stem cells is severely hampered compared with nonlipedema adipose-derived stem cells. Lipedema adipose cells differ not only in their lipid storage capacity but also in their adipokine expression pattern. This might serve as a valuable marker for diagnosis of lipedema, probably from an early stage on.

Lipoedema is a progressive disorder that is characterized by an abnormal distribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue, which results in a disproportion between the extremities and the trunk. This vascular/dermatological disease might have a detrimental impact on psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life. In this article, we report on a patient with morbid obesity that had a Roux en-Y Gastric bypass with sufficient weight loss. However, due to this weight loss, an abnormal disproportion came to light. A dermatologist diagnosed lipoedema five years after the surgery. Eventually, she had a dermolipectomy of the upper arms, of which reimbursement was initially rejected by her insurance.

640 patients from a specialist clinic for operative lymphology were surveyed with the help by a questionnaire issued by the German Society of Pain Therapy (Deutsche Schmerzgesellschaft e. V.). This survey collected responses to questions about pain and pain characteristics as well as demographic data. It revealed that only a little more than 50 % of respondents were genuine cases of obesity. Lipoedema and obesity must therefore be regarded as clinical pictures unrelated to one another. The pain was mostly described as pressing and tearing in nature. Attributes such as throbbing or pulsing, consistent with acute inflammation, were rated as "not applicable". Symptoms were independent of the BMI, which is only useable to a limited extent in lipohyperplasia dolorosa. On the whole, the main symptom "pain" is multi-faceted. The study initiated by the German Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) must therefore be viewed critically. Congenital (as opposed to acquired) lipoedema fat on the extremities significantly impairs a person's ability to undertake activities in general as well as leisure activities. Since no objectively verifiable findings in lipoedema can be ascertained thus far, the diagnosis should be based on a careful patient survey.

INTRODUCTION: Lipedema is a barely recognized and poorly diagnosed, but common disease affecting almost exclusively female patients. The pathomechanism of lipedema is not known, and clinically, it is a bilateral, symmetrical, disproportional fatty enlargement of the lower half of the body, the disease does not affect the feet, and the upper extremities are often involved. Since lipedema is associated with increased aortic stiffness and altered left ventricular (LV) rotational mechanics, the present study was designed to compare the size and function of the mitral annulus (MA) between lipedema patients and controls by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE). METHODS: Twenty-four patients with stage 2 lipedema and 48 age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched healthy control patients were included in the study. Each person from the lipedema and the control groups underwent two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography and 3DSTE. RESULTS: Significantly enlarged left atrial diameter, LV end-diastolic diameter and volume, and LV end-systolic volume could be detected in lipedema patients as compared to controls. None of the lipedema patients and controls showed ≥grade 1 mitral or tricuspid regurgitation. Dilated end-systolic and end-diastolic MA diameter, area, and perimeter could be demonstrated in lipedema patients as compared to controls, and these changes were accompanied by impaired MA fractional area change at rest. Following 1-hour use of compression stockings, no significant improvement was seen in these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Lipedema is associated with MA enlargement and functional impairment. The use of compression stockings does not improve these alterations.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this qualitative review is to provide an update on the current understanding of the genetic determinants of lipedema and to develop a genetic test to differentiate lipedema from other diagnoses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search was conducted in MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus for articles published in English up to March 2019. Lipedema and similar disorders included in the differential diagnosis of lipedema were searched in the clinical synopsis section of OMIM, in GeneCards, Orphanet, and MalaCards. RESULTS: The search identified several genetic factors related to the onset of lipedema and highlighted the utility of developing genetic diagnostic testing to help differentiate lipedema from other diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: No genetic tests or guidelines for molecular diagnosis of lipedema are currently available, despite the fact that genetic testing is fundamental for the differential diagnosis of lipedema against Mendelian genetic obesity, primary lymphedema, and lipodystrophies.

Background: The Stemmer sign is a physical examination finding used to diagnose lymphedema. If the examiner cannot pinch the skin of the dorsum of the foot or hand then this positive finding is associated with lymphedema. The purpose of the study was to determine the accuracy of the Stemmer sign to predict lymphedema. Methods: All patients referred to our Lymphedema Program between 2016 and 2018 were tested for the Stemmer sign and underwent lymphoscintigraphy to define the patient’s lymphatic function. Patient age, lymphedema type (primary and secondary), disease location (arm and leg), lymphoscintigraphy findings, stage, severity, and body mass index were recorded. Comparison of predictive variables and Stemmer sign result was performed using Fisher’s exact test and Student’s t test. Results: One hundred ten patients were studied: patients with a positive Stemmer sign (n = 87) exhibited abnormal (n = 80) or normal (n = 7) lymphatic function by lymphoscintigraphy (sensitivity = 92%). False-positive Stemmer signs included individuals with obesity (n = 6) or spinal muscle atrophy (n = 1). Subjects with a negative Stemmer sign (n = 23) had normal (n = 13) or abnormal (n = 10) lymphatic function by imaging (specificity = 57%). Patients with a false-negative Stemmer sign were more likely to have a normal body mass index (P = 0.02) and Stage 1 disease (P = 0.01). Conclusions: A positive Stemmer sign is a sensitive predictor for primary and secondary lymphedema of the arms or legs and, thus, is a useful part of the physical examination. Because the test exhibits moderate specificity, lymphoscintigraphy should be considered for patients with a high suspicion of lymphedema that have a negative Stemmer sign.

Lipedema is a disorder characterized by large amount of subcutaneous fat in the upper and lower legs due to both hyperplasia and hypertrophy. It occurs almost exclusively in females, although a few cases in men have been reported.(,) The condition is relatively rare and often seen in patients with a family history of the disease.(,) Lipedema does not yet have a registered diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) of the World Health Organization (WHO), making it difficult to establish its prevalence. However, lipedema is believed to affect nearly 11% of adult women, with noted significant differences in prevalence worldwide.(,)(,) The literature search for this report did not find epidemiological data for lipedema in Canada. The cause of lipedema is unknown, and it is likely that the condition is frequently misdiagnosed or wrongly diagnosed as lifestyle-induced obesity or lymphedema (i.e., localized fluid retention and tissue swelling).(,) However, although lipedema and obesity can co-occur, unlike obesity, lipedema usually targets the legs and thighs, without affecting the feet or hands, and the adipose tissue in lipedema is painful.(,)(,)(–) The lymphatic system remains unimpaired in the initial stages and can keep up with the increased amount of interstitial fluid.(,) However, patients with lipedema may develop secondary lymphedema (lipolymphoedema) if the fatty deposits compromise the lymphatic system. Lipedema targets both legs (and sometimes, also both hands) to the same extent and has a bilateral, nearly symmetrical presentation.(–) The excessive fat deposits are typically unresponsive to traditional weight loss interventions such as physical activity or dietary measures.(,)(,) Symptoms of the condition include pain in the lower extremities, particularly with pressure, loss of strength, easy bruising, and deterioration in daily activity levels that can greatly impact the health and quality of life of the individual with lipedema.(,)(,) Untreated lipedema may result in secondary problems including osteoarthritis, reduced mobility, psychological impairment, and lowered self-esteem. Over time, the weight of the excessive fat build-up can cause the knees to knock inward or droop to the side of the leg, and impair the inability to walk. As mentioned, in the later stages, secondary lymphedema can occur due to imbalance in the amount of fluid produced and drained by the lymphatic system.(–)(,)(,)(,) Lipedema poses a significant psychosocial burden for most patients, and associated effects often limit capacity for exercise. In severe cases, lipedema may lead to absence from work or occupational disability. There is no known curative therapy for lipedema. The primarily focus of treatment is to reduce its related lower extremity symptoms, disability, and functional limitations to improve patients’ quality of life, as well as preventing disease progression.(–)(,)(,) Treatment is divided into conservative therapy and surgical interventions. The conservative therapy includes promotion of individually adjusted healthy lifestyle, combined decongestive therapy (CDT), and other supportive measures, such as psychosocial therapy and orthopedic counseling. Conservative therapy can alleviate some lipedema symptoms such as heaviness, pain, and secondary swelling. However, these benefits are short-lived, usually requiring repeat treatment within days. Liposuction is the main surgical interventions for lipedema. Commonly used liposuction methods for lipedema are tumescent anesthesia (TA) liposuction, and water assisted liposuction (WAL). In TA liposuction, tumescent is infused in the subcutaneous tissues to cause the fat cells to swell and vessels to constrict; then blunt micro-cannulas are used to suction the fat.(,)(,) Water assisted liposuction uses a pressure spray of tumescent fluid to dislodge the fat from the connective tissue, rather than utilizing a cannula. Unlike traditional liposuction, both TA and WAL rely on the local anesthetics in the tumescent fluid and do not require general anesthesia. The objective of this report is to summarize the evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of liposuction for the treatment of lipedema and the recommendations of evidence-based clinical guidelines regarding its use for this condition.

Background: Metastatic tumor cells spread through lymphatic vessels and colonize draining lymph nodes (LNs). It is known that tumors induce lymphangiogenesis to enhance lymphatic metastasis and that metastatic cancer cells are carried by lymph flow to LNs. Methods and Results: Here, we investigated the molecular and cellular regulation of collecting lymphatic vessel contraction in vessels draining a metastatic tumor using intravital microscopy. In tumor-draining collecting lymphatic vessels, we found vessel contraction was suppressed. The infiltration of peritumor tissue by inducible nitric oxide synthase positive and CD11b+Gr1+ myeloid cells played a critical role in the suppression of lymphatic contraction. Depletion of Gr1+ cells with an anti-Gr1 antibody improved contraction of tumor-draining lymphatic vessels. In addition, inducing tumor cell death restored lymphatic contraction in nude mice. Conclusions: These findings indicate that tumors contribute to regulation of lymphatic transport in a reversible manner, warranting further investigation into the role of impaired lymphatic transport in cancer progression.

INTRODUCTION: Lipoedema is a chronic disorder of adipose tissue, characterised by disproportionate fat deposits in the lower limbs and pain with preservation of the feet. The condition usually only affects women. Diagnosis is clinical and mainly by exclusion. This disorder is little known and underdiagnosed. The objective of this article was to perform a non-systematic review of the literature on lipoedema, its diagnostic criteria and proposed treatments. METHODOLOGY: A literature search was carried out from January 2012 to January 2018, in the following databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Medline, Web of Science and CINAHL. SELECTION OF STUDIES: A total of 12 articles were included, of which 10 were reviews, one was a cross-sectional study and another was a case series. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of lipoedema is mainly clinical and through exclusion of other disorders. There is no consensus on its treatment, but treatment focuses on attempting to minimise symptoms and prevent disease progression and the disability it may generate.

Background: Lymphedema and chronic edema is a major health care problem in both developed and nondeveloped countries The Lymphoedema Impact and Prevelance - International (LIMPRINT) study is an international health service-based study to determine the prevalence and functional impact in adult populations of member countries of the International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF). Methods and Results: A total of 1051 patients from eight centers in Turkey were recruited using the LIMPRINT study protocol. Data were collected using the core and module tools that assess the demographic and clinical properties as well as disability and quality of life (QoL). Most of the Turkish patients were recruited from specialist lymphedema services and were found to be women, housewives, and having secondary lymphedema because of cancer treatment. The duration of lymphedema was commonly <5 years and most of them had International Society of Lymphology (ISL) grade 2 lymphedema. Cellulitis, infection, and wounds were uncommon. The majority of patients did not get any treatment or advice before. Most of the patients had impaired QoL and decreased functionality, but psychological support was neglected. Although most had social health security access to lymphedema centers, nevertheless access seemed difficult because of distance and cost. Conclusion: The study has shown the current status and characteristics of lymphedema patients, treatment conditions, the unmet need for the diagnosis and treatment, as well as burden of the disease in both patients and families in Turkey. National health policies are needed for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in Turkey that utilize this informative data.