Assessment of Venous Insufficiency and Clinical Features in Lipedema

May 17, 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

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

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

  • 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)
        • 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

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
Intervention / Treatment
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: Circumference Measurements
Lower extremity circumferences will be measured at predefined anatomical landmarks to evaluate limb involvement
Other: Clinical Staging
Lipedema stage will be determined according to clinical examination findings and established diagnostic criteria.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

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

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

Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Investigators

  • 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 (Estimated)

May 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 10, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 17, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID 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.

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