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Lipodystrophies are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by selective loss of adipose tissue.1 The extent of fat loss varies, with some patients losing fat from small areas (localized lipodystrophy), whereas others may have more extensive fat loss, for example, involving the extremities (partial lipodystrophy) or the entire body (generalized lipodystrophy). Depending upon the extent of fat loss, patients may be predisposed to develop complications associated with insulin resistance such as, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, acanthosis nigricans, polycystic ovarian disease, and coronary heart disease.2,3 There are two main types of lipodystrophies: (1) genetic and (2) acquired. A detailed classification of various types of lipodystrophies is given in Table 71-1.
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In the last decade or so, considerable progress has been made in elucidation ...