Membranous lipodystrophy: a clinicopathological study of six cases

Abstract

Membranous lipodystrophy apparently is a new disease, first reported and named by Nasu and associates 31 in 1971. We have collected six cases of this disease. The initial manifestation was articular pain at adolescence. Symmetrical changes in the bones of the extremities then appeared and the disease seemed to progress slowly with age. The younger patients exhibited only skeletal pain or fractures, while the older patients had some neuropsychiatric changes. Three of the patients died in middle age. The cystic bone lesions contained a yellow, lipid-like substance which histologically showed a characteristic membranocystic appearance. Electron microscopic study showed unique features, but biochemical analysis of the substance did not reveal a definable abnormality.