Lipedema May Be a Vascular Disease Too

A new review argues that blood vessels, lymphatic load, inflammation, fibrosis, and connective tissue changes may all be part of the same lipedema puzzle.

Key takeaways

• A new review suggests that lipedema may involve vascular dysfunction, including leaky and fragile blood vessels, not only abnormal fat accumulation.

• These vascular changes may help explain symptoms such as swelling, heaviness, easy bruising, pain, inflammation, and progressive tissue stiffness.

• The review does not prove what causes lipedema, but it supports a more complex disease model involving fat tissue, blood vessels, lymphatics, immune activity, and connective tissue.