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Lipodystrophy

Meaning

Lipodystrophy is a clinical term describing a group of rare metabolic disorders characterized by the abnormal distribution of body fat, involving either a selective loss of adipose tissue (lipoatrophy) or an abnormal accumulation of fat in specific areas (lipohypertrophy). This condition is often associated with severe metabolic complications, including extreme insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, and hepatic steatosis. The hormonal implications are significant, as adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ crucial for metabolic signaling.