Lipoatrophy revisited

The lipoatrophy syndromes are a heterogeneous group of syndromes characteri zed by a paucity of adipose tissue. Severe lipoatrophy is associated with i nsulin-resistant diabetes mellitus (DM). The loss of adipose tissue can hav e a genetic, immune, or infectious/drug-associated etiology. Causative muta tions have been identified in patients for one form of partial lipoatrophy - Dunnigan-type familial partial lipodystrophy. Experiments using lipoatrop hic mice demonstrate that the diabetes results from the lack of fat and tha t leptin deficiency is a contributing factor Thiazolidinedione therapy impr oves metabolic control in lipoatrophic patients; the efficacy of leptin tre atment is currently being investigated.