Adiposis Dolorosa (Dercum's Disease)

Abstract

IN 1892, Dercum1 described 3 patients from the wards of Blockley Hospital with a peculiar malady, which he entitled "adiposis dolorosa," a syndrome to which his name has subsequently been affixed. Although many cases of adiposis dolorosa have been described in the literature,2 , 3 4 5 little has been added in clinical description, pathophysiologic interpretation or etiologic definition since Dercum's original publication. It is our purpose to report, from the birthplace of this disease, another case of adiposis dolorosa in which special studies were performed.Adiposis dolorosa commonly affects menopausal women between the ages of thirty-five and fifty years. They are usually markedly . . .