LIPEDEMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED AORTIC STIFFNESS

Abstract

Lipedema is a disproportional obesitydue to unknown pathomechanism. Its majorhallmark is frequent hematoma formationrelated to increased capillary fragility andreduced venoarterial reflex. Beyond microangiopathy,both venous and lymphaticdysfunction have also been documented.However, arterial circulation in lipedema hasnot been examined, and therefore we exploredaortic elastic properties by echocardiography.Fourteen women with and 14 withoutlipedema were included in the study. Eachsubject consented to blood pressure measurement,physical examination, and transthoracicechocardiography. Aortic stiffness index (ß),distensibility, and strain were evaluated fromaortic diameter and blood pressure data.Mean systolic (30.0 ± 3.2 vs. 25.5 ± 3.6,P<0.05) and diastolic (27.8 ± 3.3 vs. 22.3 ± 3.1)aortic diameters (in mm) and aortic stiffnessindex (9.05 ± 7.45 vs. 3.76 ± 1.22, P<0.05)were significantly higher, while aortic strain(0.082 ± 0.04 vs. 0.143 ± 0.038, P<0.05) anddistensibility (2.24 ± 1.07 vs. 4.38 ± 1.61,P<0.05) were significantly lower in lipedematouspatients compared to controls. Thus,lipedema is characterized with increasedaortic stiffness.