The key difference between lipodystrophy and lipohypertrophy is that lipodystrophy is characterized by a complete or partial loss of or abnormal distribution of adipose tissue in certain areas of the body, while lipohypertrophy is characterized by the development of lumps of fat or scar tissue under the skin due to repeated injections or infusions.
Adipose tissue is also known as fat tissue. It is a connective tissue composed of fat cells called adipocytes. These cells usually store energy and contain large globules or lipid droplets surrounded by fibers. Lipodystrophy and lipohypertrophy are two conditions that are associated with abnormal fat distribution in the body.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Lipodystrophy
3. What is Lipohypertrophy
4. Similarities – Lipodystrophy and Lipohypertrophy
5. Lipodystrophy vs. Lipohypertrophy in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Lipodystrophy vs. Lipohypertrophy
What is Lipodystrophy?
Lipodystrophy can be due to a complete or partial loss of fat tissue in certain areas of the body or abnormal distribution of fat tissue. Normally, this condition starts in the childhood. However, the acquired form of this condition affects women more than men. Lipodystrophy is caused by genetic mutations in genes such as AGPAT2, BSCL2, CAV1, CAVIN1, and LMNA and due to other conditions such as chickenpox, measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, and mononucleosis. The signs and symptoms of this condition may include decreasing amounts of fat in some regions of the body with normal or excess amounts of fat in other regions of the body, a gradual loss of fat from the face, neck, arms, and chest during childhood, having excess fat around the belly, legs or buttocks, high cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar.
Figure 01: Lipodystrophy
Lipodystrophy can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, whole body scan, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, genetic testing, and kidney biopsy. Furthermore, lipodystrophy can be diagnosed through leptin replacement medication such as metreleptin, diabetes, and insulin resistance management such as pioglitazone metformin, regulating triglyceride and cholesterol levels, cosmetic surgery, and procedures such as liposuction and surgical excision.
What is Lipohypertrophy?
Repeated injections in the same area of the body can lead to the development of a lump of fatty tissue under the skin. This is known as lipohypertrophy. This condition is more common in people with diabetes. Lipohypertrophy normally occurs due to injecting insulin or another medication into the same patch of skin too many times. Lipohypertrophy also happens with HIV injections. The symptoms of this condition may include skin feeling thicker and rubbery than usual, the presence of swollen lumps beneath the skin, the formation of roughly one-inch-wide protrusions, as well as alterations in skin appearance that might be perceived as unappealing or unusual.
Lipohypertrophy can be diagnosed through questionnaires and physical examination of lumps. Furthermore, treatment options for lipohypertrophy may include stopping injecting the affected area until the area heals, using a new needle for every injection, rotating the injection site, changing diabetes management to short-acting insulin, and liposuction.
What are the Similarities Between Lipodystrophy and Lipohypertrophy?
- Lipodystrophy and lipohypertrophy are two conditions that are associated with abnormal fat distribution in the body.
- Both conditions are not life-threatening condition.
- They are diagnosed through physical examination.
- They can be treated through liposuction.
What is the Difference Between Lipodystrophy and Lipohypertrophy?
Lipodystrophy is characterized by a complete or partial loss of or abnormal distribution of adipose tissue in certain areas of the body, while lipohypertrophy is characterized by the development of lumps of fat or scar tissue under the skin due to repeated injections or infusions. Thus, this is the key difference between lipodystrophy and lipohypertrophy. Furthermore, lipodystrophy mainly affects children and women, while lipohypertrophy mainly affects people who suffer from diabetes.
The infographic below presents the differences between lipodystrophy and lipohypertrophy in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Lipodystrophy vs. Lipohypertrophy
Adipose tissue is the body fat found all over the body. Lipodystrophy and lipohypertrophy are two conditions associated with the abnormality of adipose tissue in the human body. Lipodystrophy is a condition characterized by a complete or partial loss of or abnormal distribution of adipose tissue in certain areas of the body, while lipohypertrophy is a condition characterized by the development of lumps of fat or scar tissue under the skin due to repeated injections or infusions. Moreover, lipodystrophy mainly affects children and women, whereas lipohypertrophy mainly affects people who suffer from diabetes. So, this summarizes the difference between lipodystrophy and lipohypertrophy.
Reference:
1. “Lipodystrophy.” ScienceDirect.
2.“What Is Lipohypertrophy? Symptoms, Treatments, and More.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “DXA Fat shadow” By Meralr – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia