Lipedema is a clinical entity frequently misdiagnosed or confound with primary lymphedema. Lipedema is a disorder of adipose tissue that occurs almost exclusively in obese women. It is characterized by bilateral enlargement from hip to ankle due to abnormal depositions of subcutaneous fat associated with often mild edema, usually sparing the feet. Disease onset is usually at or soon after puberty. Lipedema results in considerable frustration and distress resulting from the cosmetic appearance. Patients may complain of pain, tenderness, easy bruising of the affected areas with moderate to severe sensitivity to digital pressure or pinching. Imaging studies using computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, lymphoscintigraphy are not indicated, except if the diagnosis is atypic or doubtful. Long-term evolution may alter lymphatic system and lead to a lipo-lymphedema with specific complications such as cellulitis. Lipedema management is not codified and included weight loss (poorly improving leg appearance or discomfort), psychological counselling and compression therapy. Liposuction, especially using tumescent local anaesthesia, may reduce edema, spontaneous pain, sensitivity to pressure, bruising and improve appearance resulting in a important increase in quality of life.
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The Efficacy of Ketogenic Diets (Low Carbohydrate; High Fat) as a Potential Nutritional Intervention for Lipedema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Nutrients
September 2024
Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Medical Valens Center, São Paulo 01533-010, Brazil.
Background: Lipedema is a frequently misdiagnosed condition in women, often mistaken for obesity, which significantly deteriorates both quality of life and physical health. Recognizing the necessity for holistic treatment strategies, research has increasingly supported the integration of specific dietary approaches, particularly ketogenic diets focusing on low-carbohydrate and high-fat intake.
Objectives: to evaluate the impact of ketogenic diets on women with lipedema through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Characteristics and Clinical Features of Patients with Lipedema in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Comprehensive Assessment.
Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open
September 2024
Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNG-HA), King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Article Synopsis
- Lower limb swelling can stem from various causes, such as venous insufficiency, lymphedema, and less recognized conditions like lipedema, which often goes misdiagnosed, complicating patient care.
- A retrospective study in Saudi Arabia involved 115 female patients, revealing that the most common onset age for lipedema was 20-29 years, with symptoms like symmetric enlargement and telangiectasia being prevalent.
- The study highlights the need for better awareness and diagnosis of lipedema, noting its complex symptoms and correlations with other health factors, and calls for further research to explore cultural influences and validate findings.
Comparing the safety and effectiveness of different liposuction techniques for lipedema.
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg
October 2024
The Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Article Synopsis
- * A meta-analysis analyzed data from ten studies (involving 2,542 procedures and 906 patients) and found that all liposuction techniques significantly improved symptoms such as pain, edema, and cosmetic impairment, with WAL showing more effectiveness in reducing tension and overall impairment.
- * The overall complication rates were low across the techniques, especially for WAL (0%), indicating a promising safety profile; however, the findings on WAL's benefits should
The Role of Physical Exercise as a Therapeutic Tool to Improve Lipedema: A Consensus Statement from the Italian Society of Motor and Sports Sciences (Società Italiana di Scienze Motorie e Sportive, SISMeS) and the Italian Society of Phlebology (Società Italiana di Flebologia, SIF).
Curr Obes Rep
December 2024
Department of Wellbeing, Nutrition and Sport, Pegaso Telematic University, Centro Direzionale Isola F2, Via Porzio, 80143, Naples, Italy.
Purpose Of Review: This consensus statement from the Italian Society of Motor and Sports Sciences (Società Italiana di Scienze Motorie e Sportive, SISMeS) and the Italian Society of Phlebology (Società Italiana di Flebologia, SIF) provides the official view on the role of exercise as a non-pharmacological approach in lipedema. In detail, this consensus statement SISMeS - SIF aims to provide a comprehensive overview of lipedema, focusing, in particular, on the role played by physical exercise (PE) in the management of its clinical features.
Recent Findings: Lipedema is a chronic disease characterized by abnormal fat accumulation.
A Divergent Platelet Transcriptome in Patients with Lipedema and Lymphedema.
Genes (Basel)
June 2024
Heart Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Section of Vascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Lipedema and lymphedema are physically similar yet distinct diseases that are commonly misdiagnosed. We previously reported that lipedema and lymphedema are associated with increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The underlying etiology of the prothrombotic profile observed in lipedema and lymphedema is unclear, but may be related to alterations in platelets.
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