Assessment of Venous Insufficiency and Clinical Features in Lipedema

July 13, 2026 updated by: Feyza Nur Yucel, Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Evaluation of Venous Insufficiency and Its Association With Clinical Features in Patients With Lipedema: A Cross-Sectional Study

Lipedema is a chronic adipose tissue disorder characterized by disproportionate fat accumulation, pain, tenderness, edema, and functional impairment. Venous symptoms such as heaviness, swelling, and discomfort are frequently reported in individuals with lipedema; however, the relationship between venous Doppler ultrasonography findings and lipedema-related clinical manifestations remains insufficiently investigated. This cross-sectional controlled study aims to evaluate venous insufficiency parameters in patients with lipedema using Doppler ultrasonography and to examine their associations with pain severity, lower extremity function, disease severity, and quality of life.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Lipedema is a chronic progressive disorder of subcutaneous adipose tissue that predominantly affects women and is characterized by symmetrical enlargement of the lower extremities, pain, tenderness, easy bruising, and functional limitation. Beyond adipose tissue abnormalities, vascular and microcirculatory alterations have increasingly been implicated in the pathophysiology of the disease. Many individuals with lipedema report symptoms suggestive of venous dysfunction, including leg heaviness, swelling, discomfort, and exercise intolerance. Nevertheless, the clinical significance of venous insufficiency in lipedema has not been fully clarified.This cross-sectional controlled observational study aims to investigate venous insufficiency findings in individuals with lipedema using venous Doppler ultrasonography and to explore their relationship with clinical symptoms and functional status. Venous reflux characteristics, venous diameters, and affected venous segments will be evaluated in the superficial and deep venous systems. These vascular findings will subsequently be analyzed in relation to lipedema severity, pain intensity, lower extremity function, anthropometric measurements, and patient-reported outcomes. By improving the understanding of venous involvement in lipedema, this study may contribute to more comprehensive diagnostic assessment and multidisciplinary management strategies for affected individuals. Patients with lipedema are expected to show more frequent venous insufficiency findings, which may be associated with increased symptom severity and functional limitation.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
82

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Feyza Yücel, Assoc. Prof.
  • Phone Number: +90 (0216) 542 20 00
  • Email: dr.fny28@gmail.com

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Uskudar
      • Istanbul, Uskudar, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Recruiting
        • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Health Sciences University Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Feyza Yücel, Assoc.Prof.
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Şule Dayanç

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of adult female patients diagnosed with lipedema. Participants with lipedema will be recruited from the outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic. All participants will undergo clinical assessment and lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasonography.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female participants aged 18 years or older
  • Clinically diagnosed lipedema according to established diagnostic criteria
  • Ability to provide written informed consent
  • Ability to complete clinical assessments and questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of lower extremity venous surgery or sclerotherapy
  • Known peripheral arterial disease
  • Secondary lymphedema or other causes of lower extremity edema
  • Active infection, cellulitis, or inflammatory disease affecting the lower extremities
  • Pregnancy or postpartum period
  • Neurological, rheumatological, or musculoskeletal disorders significantly affecting lower extremity function
  • Malignancy or severe systemic disease
  • Inability to undergo venous Doppler ultrasonography
  • Inability to understand or complete study assessments and questionnaires

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Patient
Patients with lipedema
Diagnostic test: Venous Doppler Ultrasonography
Participants will undergo lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasonography to evaluate venous insufficiency findings, including venous reflux characteristics, affected venous segments, and venous diameters in the superficial and deep venous systems.
Other: Numeric Rating Scale
Pain intensity will be evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain).
Other Names:
  • NRS
Other: Lower Extremity Functional Scale
Functional status will be assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating better lower extremity function and lower disability levels.
Other Names:
  • LEFS
Other: Short Form-12
Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the SF-12 questionnaire, including the Physical Component Summary (PCS-12) and Mental Component Summary (MCS-12) scores. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better perceived health status and quality of life.
Other Names:
  • SF-12
Other: Clinical Staging
Lipedema stage will be determined according to clinical examination findings and established diagnostic criteria.
Other: Lower Extremity Circumference at Standardized Anatomical Landmarks (cm)
Circumference of both lower extremities will be measured using a non-stretch tape measure at the ankle, calf, knee, and thigh according to standardized anatomical landmarks. Measurements will be recorded in centimeters.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Presence of Venous Reflux on Doppler Ultrasonography
Time Frame: Baseline
Venous reflux will be assessed using lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasonography. The presence of pathological reflux in great saphenous vein will be recorded according to standard venous ultrasound criteria.
Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Severity (NRS)
Time Frame: Baseline
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain severity.
Baseline
Lower Extremity Function (LEFS)
Time Frame: Baseline
Lower extremity function will be evaluated using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). Total scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating better functional status and lower disability levels.
Baseline
Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-12)
Time Frame: Baseline
Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire, including Physical Component Summary (PCS-12) and Mental Component Summary (MCS-12) scores. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life and perceived health status.
Baseline
Lower Extremity Circumference Measurements
Time Frame: Baseline
Lower extremity circumferences will be measured at predefined anatomical landmarks to evaluate limb involvement and tissue distribution.
Baseline
Duration of Venous Reflux on Doppler Ultrasonography
Time Frame: Baseline
Reflux duration (milliseconds) in great saphenous vein will be recorded according to standard venous ultrasound criteria.
Baseline
Great Saphenous Vein Diameter Measured by Doppler Ultrasonography
Time Frame: Baseline
The diameter of the great saphenous vein will be measured in millimeters using lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasonography. Measurements will be recorded at predefined anatomical levels.
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Feyza Yücel, Assoc. Prof., Sultan 2.Abdülhamid Han Research and Training Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 10, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 13, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 00000111

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be made publicly available due to privacy and confidentiality considerations.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings