FAT-CELL SIZE AND LIPID-CONTENT OF SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE IN CONGENITAL GENERALIZED LIPODYSTROPHY

Fat cell size and lipid composition of subcutaneous tissue from 3 patients with congenital generalized lipodystrophy have been measured before and after treatment with either pimozide, fenfluramine or hypophysectomy. The fat cell volume before treatment ranged between 9.8 x 104 and 17.7 x 104 μm3, compared to 9.0 x 104 and 85.3 x 104 μm3 in 15 controls. The amount of lipids was only 1/10 to 1/50 of normal, triglycerides being the most heavily reduced lipid component. Neither the fat cell size nor the lipid content were affected by treatment with hypophysectomy, pimozide or fenfluramine.