Abstract
In this issue of Lymphatic Research and Biology, we continue our recent focus on the very important and prevalent lymphovascular disease of lipedema.1–6 In this issue, in addition to the publication of a seminal, proposed research-based framework for lipedema case definition, the journal is proud to publish two further additions to the growing prospective clinical literature devoted to this relatively neglected and poorly comprehended diagnostic entity.
Here, Morgan and colleagues report the findings of their family-based study of inherited genetic risk in lipedema. The authors obtained DNA from 31 individuals derived from nine lipedema-affected families. The analysis yielded 469 variant gene candidates. Gene ontology assessment suggested that vasopressin receptor activity, microfibril binding, and patched binding might be identified as important contributants to the genetic risk. Thus, although lipedema is not caused by a single exomic factor, this study provides important candidates for future analysis and underscores the likely multigenic nature of the heritable components of this prevalent disease.
The journal is also pleased to present the report regarding LymphActiv: a novel digital intervention for the treatment of lipedema and lymphedema. The intervention, designed to be a physical activity behavior intervention, has the intent of improving the status of these lymphatic conditions through the salutary impact of movement combined with compression. The authors demonstrated that, in this open observational cohort design, 37 individuals completed the 24 weeks of observation, with a demonstrable improvement in physical activity that correlated with modest improvement in body weight and limb volume. Clearly, this easily implemented intervention, capitalizing on a personalized digital approach, represents a valuable adjunct to the current limited ability to radically alter the clinical outcomes.
Lymphatic Research and Biology is pleased to play a leading role in supporting the growing much-needed medical literature devoted to lipedema.