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Aetiology

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • aetiology of lipoedema is unknown
  • many patients with lipoedema have a family history of similarly enlarged legs suggesting a genetic basis
  • hormonal factors also are likely to be involved in the aetiology of lipoedema
    • given that lipoedema occurs almost exclusively in women and onset occurs typically during puberty or other periods of hormonal change, including pregnancy and menopause
      • the rare cases of lipoedema in males have tended to be in patients with hepatic cirrhosis or in men receiving hormonal therapy (eg, for prostatic carcinoma)
  • obesity and lipoedema
    • although obese patients may be overrepresented among those with lipoedema persons of normal weight are also commonly affected
      • obesity itself is unlikely to be a major determinant of this syndrome
  • no known associations of lipoedema with spina bifida or paraplegia, nor are there any described lipoedema-associated congenital syndromes. lipoedema does not predispose a person to ulcer development

Reference:

  • 1) Fonder MA et al. Lipedema, a frequently unrecognized problem Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2007; 57 (2): S1-S3

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