Madelung's Disease: Inherited from an Ancient Mediterranean Population?

Figure 1. A 44-year-old man was evaluated for symmetric deposits of fat on his arms and legs. At the age of 26 years, he had been hospitalized because of axonal polyneuropathy of the legs and alcoholic fatty liver. Subsequently, fat deposits characteristic of multiple symmetric lipomatosis slowly developed (Panel A). In addition to the fat deposits, the patient had macrocytic anemia, peripheral neuropathy, and alcoholic fatty liver. Glucose and lipid metabolism was normal. No other family members had a similar distribution of fat. Multiple symmetric lipomatosis, also known as Madelung's disease or the Launois–Bensaude syndrome, is characterized by painless, diffuse, . . .