The National Lipedema Study

NCT ID: NCT05284266

Last Updated: 2025-09-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

220 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-03-11

Study Completion Date

2027-12-31

Brief Summary

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Lipedema is a chronic condition with a symmetrical accumulation of painful fatty tissue primarily affecting the limbs, sparing hands, feet and trunk. The subcutaneous fatty tissue is disproportionately voluminous and may have a different microstructure and metabolism than the patient's regular fatty tissue. The condition affects almost exclusively women and usually debuts around puberty. Lipedema seems to have a hereditary component, may be affected by hormonal variations and worsens with obesity. Guidelines advocate conservative treatment with compression therapy, weight management, physical activity, life style changes and psychological support;and in some cases surgical treatment such as bariatric surgery and liposuction.

Treatment of lipedema is indicated when the condition causes significant pain and inhibits the patient's everyday activities. Well-designed randomized controlled studies on lipedema are lacking.

The Ministry of Health and Care Services in Norway has found the scientific documentation for the effects of liposuction to be insufficient and has recommended that surgical treatment of lipedema should be evaluated through a 5-year clinical trial. A national task force, consisting of representatives from all four regional health authorities in Norway has been set up. This task force has now initiated this study. A national multi-center study with homogenous treatment protocols can provide globally sought insight on lipedema and the effect of its treatment regimes, and the findings will be important to adjust future treatment strategies regarding both effect and cost/effectiveness.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Lipedema

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Eligible patients are randomized to two different conservative treatment protocols;either standard conservative treatment (SCT) or standard treatment plus additional lymphedema treatment (intermittent pneumatic compression -IPC). After 6 months the effects of the conservative treatment are evaluated. Patients who still want surgery and fulfill the criteria are randomized (1:1) to early (cases(liposuction initiated 6-9 months after inclusion)) or late surgery (controls (liposuction initiated 18-21 months after inclusion)). Randomization to the surgical group is stratified by conservative treatment arm.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Standard conservative treatment

Standard conservative treatment consisting of:

* Physical therapy, including compression garment and exercise program
* Self-care program
* Individual counseling from a clinical dietician

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard conservative treatment

Intervention Type OTHER

Standard Conservative treatment consisiting of:

Physical therapy, including compression garment and exercise program, Self-care program

Standard treatment plus additional lymphedema treatment

Standard conservative treatment consisting of:

* Physical therapy, including compression garment and exercise program
* Self-care program
* Individual counseling from a clinical dietician Additional lymphedema treatment consisting of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Standard conservative treatment with Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC)

Intervention Type OTHER

Physical therapy, including compression garment and exercise program, Self-care program and Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC)

Surgical group: Liposuction

Early liposuction, 6-9 months after inclusion in study.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Liposuction early

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Liposuction 6-9 months after inclusion

Surgical group: Control

Late liposuction, 18-21 months after inclusion. This group functions as a control group for 1 year before enrolment in the Liposuction group.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Liposuction late

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Liposuction 18-21 months after inclusion

Interventions

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Liposuction early

Liposuction 6-9 months after inclusion

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Liposuction late

Liposuction 18-21 months after inclusion

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Standard conservative treatment

Standard Conservative treatment consisiting of:

Physical therapy, including compression garment and exercise program, Self-care program

Intervention Type OTHER

Standard conservative treatment with Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC)

Physical therapy, including compression garment and exercise program, Self-care program and Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC)

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* female
* age 20-65 years
* significant pain from lipedema
* lipedema stage 1-2 or localized stage 3

Exclusion Criteria

* Non-fluency in the Norwegian language
* pregnancy
* current malignancy
* previous surgical treatment for lipedema
* smoking
* BMI \> 28
* serious comorbidities such as cardiac-, pulmonary-, renal disease
* unwillingness to wear compression garments
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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St. Olavs Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University Hospital of North Norway

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Sykehuset Telemark

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Bergen

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Klinbeforsk

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Helse Vest

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Hildur Skuladottir

Medical Doctor, PhD

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Hildur Skuladottir, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital

Locations

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Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital

Bergen, , Norway

Site Status

Countries

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Norway

Other Identifiers

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239087

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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