Evidence mapPaperPMID 41575573Full record

SynthesisArchives of gynecology and obstetrics2026

Impact of hormones on lipedema development: a systematic literature review.

Julia Elisabeth Lüchinger, Elena Pavicic, Cynthia Laura Giachino, Petra Stute

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Julia Elisabeth LüchingerFaculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0003-7837-3464
Elena PavicicDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0002-8682-2082
Cynthia Laura GiachinoFaculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0003-3431-7794
Petra StuteDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. petra.stute@insel.ch.ORCID 0000-0002-5591-1552

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeLipedema is a chronic disorder that affects the subcutaneous adipose tissue of the lower and upper limbs and results in painful fat accumulations. During the reproductive life span, about 11% of women are affected; however, there are a high number of suspected undiagnosed and thus untreated cases.

methodsThe aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the association between hormones and the pathophysiological mechanisms of lipedema development. Inclusion criteria were: lipedema, lipoedema, estrogen, estrogen antagonists, female sex hormones, hormones, insulin, puberty, pregnancy, menopause, subcutaneous fat tissue, and subcutaneous adipose connective tissue.

resultsThe literature search yielded 121 hits; after deduplication, 64 records were screened. After abstract and full-text screening 15 publications were suitable for being included in the systematic review. Overall, four different pathophysiological hypotheses were postulated: (1) general hormonal imbalance, (2) changes in growth hormone balance, (3) metabolic imbalance such as changes in adipose stem cells in relation to adipokines or leptin in association with the transcription factor PPARγ, and (4) changes in estrogen metabolism as well as alterations in the function of estrogen receptors.

conclusionLipedema appears to be a multifactorial condition primarily driven by hormonal dysregulation-especially involving estrogen-alongside metabolic and possible genetic components. The findings support the reclassification of lipedema as a hormonally influenced disorder distinct from obesity, emphasizing the need for further research into diagnostic biomarkers, targeted therapies, and the role of genetic susceptibility.

Indexed as

Gonadal Steroid HormonesHormonesLipedemaEstrogensFemaleHumansPregnancyEstrogensGonadal Steroid HormonesHormonesEstrogenHormonesLipedemaSubcutaneous fat tissue

Identifiers

PMID41575573
PMCPMC12830482

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.