Syndrome, Launois-Bensaude
A disorder characterized by painless symmetrical diffuse deposits of fat beneath the skin of the neck, upper trunk, arms and legs.
The condition is thought to be genetic although its exact mode of inheritance is uncertain; it may be a mitochondrial DNA disease. It frequently appears in association with alcoholic liver disease, macrocytic anemia (“low blood” with big red blood cells) and peripheral neuropathy (disease of the peripheral nervous system, as opposed to the brain and spinal cord). The peripheral neuropathy has often been laid to alcoholism, but the neuropathy is likely an integral part of the syndrome.
This disorder affects mainly men and is more frequent in the Mediterranean area. It has been suggested that the distribution of fat in this disease resembles that of a pre-Roman (6th century BC) Italic statue called the Capestrano warrior discovered in the Abruzzi region of Italy.
The syndrome is also known as multiple symmetrical lipomatosis, cephalothoracic lipodystrophy, and Madelung disease. It was called ‘fat neck’ (Fetthals) by Madelung in 1888.
Read Also:
-
Peripheral neuropathy is when the peripheral nerves (as compared to the spinal cord or brain) become the source of pain. One way to look at pain is whether it is in response to an appropriate stimulus, such as someone stepping on your toe, or whether the pain occurs for no obvious reason; malfunctioning of the […]
- Syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut
A severe form of epilepsy that usually begins in early childhood and is characterized by frequent seizures of multiple types, mental impairment, and a particular brain wave pattern (a slow spike-and-wave pattern). The seizures that are notoriously hard to treat and may lead to falls and injuries can be reduced in frequency by treatment with […]
- Syndrome, Lenz microphthalmia
Lenz microphthalmia syndrome.
- Syndrome, Li-Fraumeni (LFS)
the p53 tumor-suppressor gene. LFS has been of considerable importance to the understanding of the genetics and molecular biology of cancer.
- Syndrome, lipodystrophy
A disturbance of lipid (fat) metabolism that involves the partial or total absence of fat and often the abnormal deposition and distribution of fat in the body. There are a number of different lipodystrophy syndromes. Some of them are congenital (present at birth) while others are acquired later. Some are genetic (inherited), others not. One […]