Investigation of Central Sensitization and Associated Factors in Patients With Lipedema

Study Purpose

This study aims to investigate the presence of central sensitization and its associated parameters in patients with lipedema. Lipedema is a chronic and hereditary condition that primarily affects the lower extremities in women and is often associated with hormonal changes. Symptoms such as pain, swelling, and tenderness are common in lipedema, and these symptoms may be related to central sensitization. Additionally, the ultrasonographic findings and pain sensitivity in lipedema will be compared with those of healthy individuals. This study seeks to contribute to the diagnosis and treatment process of lipedema.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms	Yes
Study Type An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes. An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes. Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.	Observational
Eligible Ages	18 Years - 65 Years
Gender	All

More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Lipedema; Diagnosis of lipedema Aged between 18 and 65 years Literate Willing to participate in the study. 2. control group; Being completely healthy (no internal/metabolic issues such as diabetes, obesity, or hypothyroidism, and no diagnosis of lipedema) BMI ≤ 30 Aged between 18 and 65 years Literate Willing to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Lipedema group; Under 18 or over 65 years of age Presence of concurrent lymphedema, chronic venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, polyneuropathy, or fibromyalgia Illiterate Not willing to participate in the study. 2. Control group; Under 18 or over 65 years of age Presence of concurrent lymphedema, chronic venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, polyneuropathy, fibromyalgia, systemic rheumatic diseases, active cancer, infections, or pregnancy Illiterate Not willing to participate in the study

Trial Details

Trial ID: This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.	NCT06770634
Phase Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans. Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data. Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs. Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.
Lead Sponsor The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.	Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Principal Investigator The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.	Emre Ata, Assoc.Prof
Principal Investigator Affiliation	Sultan Abdülhamid Han Research and Training Hospital
Agency Class Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.	Other
Overall Status	Recruiting
Countries	Turkey
Conditions The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.	Lipedema, Central Sensitisation

Additional Details

Lipedema is a chronic and hereditary condition that affects the subcutaneous fat tissue, particularly in the lower extremities of women. Although its prevalence is not clearly known, it is estimated to be common in the general population. It typically begins during periods of weight gain associated with hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. It is characterized by persistent swelling in the lower extremities, especially in the upper thighs, which does not improve with elevation, and is painful to touch. Patients often report easy bruising even with minor trauma or touch. The hips and gluteal region are the most commonly affected areas, and the hands and feet are typically spared. On examination, the affected extremities feel soft and doughy due to fat hypertrophy, and there is an increased sensitivity across the area. During follow-up, patients' weight and body mass index (BMI) should be monitored, and the circumferences and volumes of the affected extremities should be measured and recorded. The diagnosis is usually made clinically after ruling out other differential diagnoses. Among the auxiliary imaging methods, ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to evaluate the skin and subcutaneous fat tissue. US is frequently preferred in the diagnosis of lipedema as it allows differentiation from lymphedema. Common ultrasonographic findings of lipedema include normal skin thickness, increased thickness of the subcutaneous layer, homogeneous expansion of this layer, and a decrease in echogenicity. A key issue in the diagnosis of lipedema is its confusion with obesity, a prevalent health issue in the general population. Pain is a significant symptom in patients with lipedema. Studies have shown that pain and increased sensitivity in the swollen extremities of lipedema patients negatively affect their quality of life. Patients frequently complain of nonspecific pain and tenderness, thought to be transmitted by A beta and C fibers, a phenomenon known as allodynia. These complaints are believed to be associated with an increase in pain sensitivity. Central sensitization is the increased sensitivity of the central nervous system to pain. This condition is associated with exaggerated pain responses to stimuli from specific areas of the body, especially in patients with chronic pain. The pain experienced in lipedema, which worsens even with mild stimuli like touch, raises the possibility of central sensitization. These findings suggest that pain in lipedema is not merely a localized fat tissue issue, but rather a complex process that also affects the nervous system. Therefore, although the presence of central sensitization in lipedema has not been conclusively proven, it is believed that central sensitization may occur in lipedema, considering the role of chronic pain and neurogenic mechanisms. This study aims to investigate the presence of central sensitization and its associated parameters in patients with lipedema. Additionally, the study will examine the differences and similarities in ultrasonographic and pain sensitivity findings between individuals with lipedema and healthy controls.

Arms & Interventions

Arms

: lipedema

patients with lipedema

: Healthy control

Healthy volunteers

Interventions

Other: - Pain-Pressure Threshold Measurement With an Algometer

The measurement will be performed 2 times with 3 min intervals for each region and the average of these applications will be recorded. Before the test, a trial test will be applied to the patient. With the pressure algometer, pressure will be applied to the selected points until it causes pain and the test will be terminated for that region when the patient feels pain. The measurement includes bilateral thigh, pretibial region and left forearm as remote site and Wagner manual pressure algometer (1 cm2 probe-10 kg/20 lb) will be used. The selected points will be: Bilateral thigh: Mid-thigh anterior surface Bilateral pretibial region: Anterior proximal 1/3 of the pretibial area Bilateral forearm volar side center as control point

Other: - Central Sensitization Inventory

The central sensitization scale was developed primarily to detect central sensitization findings in patients with chronic pain and consists of two parts, A and B. In part A, 25 somatic and psychosocial symptoms frequently found in patients with central sensitization.

Other: - Numeric Rating Scale

Leg pain, feeling of tension and heaviness on the affected arm will be evaluated separately by numerical scale.

Other: - Lower Extremity Functional Scale

The lower extremity functional scale is a valid patient-rated outcome measure for the measurement of lower extremity function. The scale consist of 4 groups with 20 questions. The questions in these group focus on activities with increasing physical demands like questions from walking between rooms to running on uneven ground. The scoring of this scale varies from 0 (extreme difficulty/unable to perform activity) to 4 (no difficulty). The total score can be obtained by summing the scores of the individual items. The maximum score of 80 indicates no functional limitations and the minimum score of 0 indicates extreme limitations.

Other: - Short form 12

The Short form 12 is a self-reported outcome measure assessing the impact of health on an individual's everyday life. It is often used as a quality of life measure.The scoring yields two summary measures: the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS).Utilize the norm-based scoring system to interpret PCS and MCS scores, with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10 in the general population.Scores above 50 indicate a better-than-average health-related quality of life, while scores below 50 suggest below-average health.

Other: - lower extremity volumetric measurement

It is calculated by converting the circumference measurements taken at 4 cm intervals from the ankle to the proximal thigh into lower extremity volume with Excel.

Other: - lower extremity circumference measurement

bilateral tuberosity tibia, 20 cm proximal tuberosity tibia, tuberosity tibia 10 cm distal and ankle level

Other: - Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis

With Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, fat, muscle and water ratio and lean mass are calculated in addition to the patient's body weight.

Diagnostic Test: - Ultrasound

Measurement of subcutaneous fat tissue thickness from mid-thigh, pretibial, lateral leg and supramalleolar regions with ultrasound.The average of two measurements taken from the same area will be recorded.According to these measurements; 12-15 mm = mild lipedema or lipohyperplasia, 15-20 mm = moderate lipedema, >20 mm = significant lipedema, >30 mm = severe lipedema.

Contact a Trial Team

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International Sites

Istanbul, Üsküdar, Turkey

Status

Recruiting

Address

Sultan 2. Abdülhamid Han Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, İstanbul, Üsküdar 34000

Istanbul, Üsküdar, 34000

Site Contact

[email protected]

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