Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)


Other names people use for this condition
  • Acute lipodermatosclerosis
  • Hypodermitis sclerodermaformis
  • Sclerosing panniculitis
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Lipodermatosclerosis
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Please send me any information you have regarding lipodermatosclerosis. The physicians in my area do not know how to treat my condition. The pain is getting unbearable at times and I am looking for any kind of treatments that may help my condition.



  • What is lipodermatosclerosis? (Back to Top)

  • Lipodermatosclerosis is a skin and connective tissue disease. It is a form of lower extremity panniculitis.[2] Panniculitis is an inflammation of the layer of fat under the epidermis.[1]
  • Last Reviewed: 2/20/2008

  • Are there other names for lipodermatosclerosis?  (Back to Top)

  • Yes. Other names for lipodermatosclerosis include sclerosing panniculitis and hypodermatitis sclerodermaformis. [2]
  • Last Reviewed: 2/20/2008

  • What symptoms are associated with lipodermatosclerosis? (Back to Top)

  • Pain may be the first noticed symptom.[2] People with lipodermatosclerosis have tapering of their legs above the ankles, forming a constricting band resembling an inverted coke bottle.[3][2] In addition, there may be brownish-red pigmentation and induration.[3]
  • Last Reviewed: 2/20/2008

  • What causes lipodermatosclerosis? (Back to Top)

  • The exact cause of lipodermatosclerosis is unknown.[4][2] Venous disease, such as venous incompetence and venous hypertension, and body mass (obesity) may be relevant to the underlying pathogenesis.[2]

    Increased blood pressure in the veins (venous hypertension) can cause diffusion of substances, including fibrin, out of capillaries. Fibrotic tissue may predispose the tissue to ulceration. Recurrent ulceration and fat necrosis is associated with lipodermatosclerosis. In advanced lipodermatosclerosis the proximal leg swells from chronic venous obstruction and the lower leg shrinks from chronic ulceration and fat necrosis resulting in the inverted coke bottle appearance of the lower leg.[5]
  • Last Reviewed: 2/15/2008

  • Who is most commonly affected by lipodermatosclerosis?  (Back to Top)

  • Lipodermatosclerosis is most commonly diagnosed in middle-aged women.[2]
  • Last Reviewed: 2/15/2008

  • How might lipodermatosclerosis be treated? (Back to Top)

  • The management of lipodermatosclerosis may include treating venous insufficiency with leg elevation, elastic compression stockings, and bed rest; in some difficult cases, the condition may be improved with the additional use of the fibrinolytic agent, stanozol. Fibronolytic agents use an enzymatic action to help dissolve blood clots.[1][6][2][3]
  • Last Reviewed: 2/15/2008

  • How can I learn about research involving lipodermatosclerosis? (Back to Top)

  • The National Institutes of Health, through the National Library of Medicine, developed ClinicalTrials.gov to provide patients, family members, and members of the public with current information on clinical research studies. While no studies involving lipodermatosclerosis are listed at this time, there are a number of studies enrolling patients with venous insufficiency and leg ulcers. To find these trials, click on the link above and use "venous insufficiency AND leg ulcer" as your search term. After you click on a study, review its "eligibility" criteria to determine its appropriateness. Use the study’s contact information to learn more. Check this site often for regular updates, using either the search terms above or "Lipodermatosclerosis."

    You can also contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison (PRPL) Office at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We recommend calling the toll-free number listed below to speak with a specialist, who can help you determine if you are eligible for any clinical trials.

    Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office (PRPL)
    NIH Clinical Center
    Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2655
    Toll-free: 800-411-1222
    Fax: 301-480-9793
    Email: prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov
    Web site:  http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/

    If you are interested in enrolling in a clinical trial, you can find helpful general information on clinical trials at the following ClinicalTrials.gov Web page.
    http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/info/understand

    A tutorial about clinical trials that can also help answer your questions can be found at the following link from the National Library of Medicine.
    http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cancerclinicaltrials/htm/lesson.htm

    Resources on many charitable or special-fare flights to research and treatment sites and low-cost hospitality accommodations for outpatients and family members, as well as ambulance services, are listed on the Web site of the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD), part of the National Institutes of Health.
    http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Resources.aspx?PageID=8


  • Last Reviewed: 2/20/2008

  • I am experiencing a lot of pain. Are there resources to help me deal with my chronic pain? (Back to Top)

  • Yes. Below we have listed a number of organizations that provide supportive resources and additional information for chronic pain.

    American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)
    P.O. Box 850
    Rocklin, CA 95677
    Toll-free: 800-533-3231
    Fax: 916-632-3208
    Email: ACPA@pacbell.net
    Web site: http://www.theacpa.org

    National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain
    P.O. Box 70045
    Houston, TX 77270-0045
    Phone: 713-862-9332
    Fax: 713-862-9346
    Email: jfshmd@houston.rr.com
    Web site: http://www.paincare.org

    American Pain Foundation
    201 North Charles Street
    Suite 710
    Baltimore, MD 21201
    Toll-free: 888-615-7246
    Email: info@painfoundation.org
    Web site: http://www.painfoundation.org

    The Mayday Pain Project
    c/o SPG
    136 West 21st Street, 6th Floor
    New York, NY 10011
    Phone: 212-366-6970
    Fax: 212-366-6979
    E-mail: inquiry@maydayfund.org
    Web site: http://www.painandhealth.org


  • Last Reviewed: 3/3/2009


References  (Back)
  1. Ginsburg PM, Ehrenpreis ED. NORD Guide to Rare Disorders. Philadelphia PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2003.
  2. Bruce AJ. et al. , Lipodermatosclerosis: Review of cases evaluated at Mayo Clinic. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002.
  3. Phelps RG, Shoji T. . The Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine. 2001;:. Available at: http://www.mssm.edu/msjournal/68/v68_pages262_267.pdf. February 13, 2008.
  4. Fischer DR, Matthews JB. Sleisenger & Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 7th ed . In: . Diseases of the mesentery and omentum. Philadelphia, PA:Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.; 2002:
  5. Habif TP. Habif: Clinical Dermatology, 4th ed. In: . Stasis dermatitis and venous ulceration: Postphlebitic syndromes. New York, NY:Mosby, Inc; 2004:
  6. Camilleri MJ, Danil Su WP. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine, 6th ed. In: . Panniculitis. New York, NY:McGraw-Hill; 2003:

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