Acquired partial lipodystrophy: long-term follow-up of 3 Chinese patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics, cause of disease and response to treatment on acquired partial lipodystrophy(APL). Methods From 1991 to 2012, 3 Chinese APL patients were studied. Results 3 patients of APL were all female, onset of disease were all around 10 years old, and the age of diagnosis were 20-62 years old. They were followed 2-12 years and now they are 25-65 years old. The subcutaneous adipose tissue was significantly decreased in upper body and was not affected or increased in the lower body in all 3 patients. Diabetes was diagnosed in all 3 patients and they were all with hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia and fatty liver. Complement C3 were lower than lower limit of normal in 2 patients. Two patients had normal menstruation, one patient had normal pregnancy. The 3 patients were treated on the basis of pioglitazone, blood glucose was well controlled and serum triglyceride decreased to normal, but the severely decreased subcutaneous adipose tissue in upper body didn't recover. Conclusion With treatment on the basis of pioglitazone, 3 APL patients can be well controlled metabolically, but the severely decreased subcutaneous adipose tissue in upper body couldn't recover. Key words: Diabetes mellitus; Insulin resistance; Acquired partial lipodystrophy; Pioglitazone