Aetiology

• 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