CASE REPORT   

Acta Phlebologica 2019 December;20(3):96-8

DOI: 10.23736/S1593-232X.20.00456-7

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Lipedema and obesity associated with subclinical systemic lymphedema in a patient with deep vein thrombosis

Jose M. PEREIRA DE GODOY ¹ ✉, Henrique J. PEREIRA DE GODOY ², Maria de Fatima GUERREIRO GODOY ²

¹ Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medicine School, São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), CNPq (National Council for Research and Development), São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; ² School of Medicine, Federal do Mato Grosso-Cuiabá-UFMT University, Research Group in the Clínica Godoy, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil

The objective of the present study was to report that aggravating factors of lymphatic or venous edema contribute to aggravate the evolution of lymphedema. A 54-year-old women with a six-year history of venous thrombosis of the left leg reported that her family had thicker arms and legs and that she had inherited this genetic trait. Electrical bioimpedance analysis was performed with the In Body S10 device. The exam revealed total intracellular and extracellular water beyond the parameters of normality as well as water in the thorax and limbs. In the lower limbs, the total extracellular water/total body water ratio also surpassed the limits of normality. The findings demonstrated bilateral lower limb lymphedema with clinical signs in the left leg. Obesity can trigger a new concept of lymphedema that we denominate subclinical systemic lymphedema, which is characterized by an increase in body water. Moreover, aggravating processes of the venous system, such as deep vein thrombosis, can aggravate the edema.

KEY WORDS: Lipedema; Obesity; Venous thrombosis