Lipedema

Lipedema / Lipoedema / Lipödem

Definition
Lipedema is a loose connective tissue disease almost exclusively in women identified by increased nodular and fibrotic adipose tissue on buttocks, hips, and limbs. Lipedema tissue may be very painful and can severely impair mobility.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary among patients, but may include:

  • Increased symmetric tissue on limbs disproportional to upper torso. Develops at times of hormone, weight, and shape change including puberty, pregnancy, menopause; Difficulty losing lipedema tissue, especially from the legs, despite diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery

  • Feet and hands less affected

    1. In early stages, a slender torso contrasts to increased tissue on the lower abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, and legs

    2. In later stages, lipedema manifests further on the abdomen and upper extremities and becomes fibrotic

  • Integumentary: Easy bruising; pain and tenderness in affected areas; loss of skin elasticity; cutaneous hypothermia with mottled appearance; reddish blue feet when standing

  • Musculoskeletal: Joint hypermobility; muscle weakness; Hyperlordosis of lumbar spine; Valgus knee; ankle pronation

  • Vascular: Leg swelling despite elevation; Edema (pitting or non-pitting); spider and varicose veins

  • Endocrine: Hyperthyroidism in up to 36%; increasing risk of hypovitaminosis D with increased weight

  • Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain; bloating; constipation; diarrhea

  • Pulmonary: Shortness of breath; Sleep apnea or other sleep issues

Herbst, K. L., Kahn, L. A., Iker, E., Ehrlich, C., Wright, T., McHutchison, L., Schwartz, J., Sleigh, M., Donahue, P. M., Lisson, K. H., Faris, T., Miller, J., Lontok, E., Schwartz, M. S., Dean, S. M., Bartholomew, J. R., Armour, P., Correa-Perez, M., Pennings, N., Larson, E. (May 2021). Standard of care for lipedema in the United States. Phlebology. doi: 10.1177/02683555211015887 Published by Sage.

Shared with author’s permission.