LYMPHATIC AND VENOUS FUNCTION IN LIPOEDEMA

Lipoedema is a common but infrequently recognized condition causing bi lateral enlargement of the legs in women. Although generally considere d to be the result of an abnormal deposition of subcutaneous fat with associated oedema, the precise mechanisms responsible for oedema forma tion have yet to be fully established. In order to evaluate the possib le role of lymphatic or venous dysfunction in the pathogenesis of lipo edema, 10 patients were investigated by photoplethysmography (venous f unction) and quantitative lymphoscintigraphy (lymphatic function). The results were compared with those from patients with primary lymphoede ma and those from healthy volunteers. The results demonstrated minor a bnormalities of venous function in only two patients. One patient had moderately impaired lymphatic function in both legs and seven patients had a marginal degree of impairment in one or both legs. However, in none of these cases did the impairment attain the low levels seen in t rue lymphoedema. Lipoedema appears to be a distinct clinical entity be st classified as a lipodystrophy rather than a direct consequence of a ny primary venous or lymphatic insufficiency.