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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