https://jeltsch.org/en/tags/swiss-lymphsymposium/Recent content in Swiss Lymphsymposium on Michael’s DomainHugoen-usCopyright © 2002 - 2026 Michael Jeltsch.Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:18:18 +0300https://jeltsch.org/en/was_wissen_wir_eigentlich_sicher_ueber_lipoedeme/Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://jeltsch.org/en/was_wissen_wir_eigentlich_sicher_ueber_lipoedeme/<p>Lipedema is an accumulation of subcutaneous fat, mainly in the lower body, which is resistant to weight loss and occurs almost exclusively in women. It is often painful, prone to bruising and is thought to have a genetic component, which is likely triggered by hormonal changes. Although lipoedema was recognised as a condition more than 80 years ago, our understanding of the condition and its aetiology remains incomplete. This is due in no small part to the fact that lipoedema has only recently been included in the official classification of diseases. Virtually all aspects of the condition are controversial, starting with its classification. The symptoms of lipoedema overlap with those of obesity, lipodystrophy, lymphoedema and connective tissue disorders. There are as yet no specific tests, and due to the uncertainty surrounding diagnosis, there is also considerable uncertainty regarding the prevalence of lipoedema, with estimates varying widely from 1 in 75,000 to 39 per cent of all women. Many hypotheses have been put forward regarding the cause of lipoedema, including that it is a lipid metabolism disorder, a connective tissue disorder, or an inflammatory or immune-mediated disease. A definitive cause has not yet been identified, and the search for ‘lipoedema genes’ has so far yielded no conclusive results, with the exception of individual genes that play a role in only a small proportion of all patients.</p>