Multiple symmetric lipomatosis (Launois-Bensaude syndrome): effect of oral salbutamol.

A 65-year-old Kenyan Asian developed rapidly progressive multiple symmetrical lipomatosis over 8 years. Noradrenaline infusion showed a normal response of plasma free fatty acids. In-vitro studies of the lipomatous tissue demonstrated intact lipolytic activities with a normal rate of free fatty acids release and cyclic AMP accumulation with or without isoprenaline and fenoterol stimulation. A clinical trial of oral salbutamol, a beta 2-agonist, was performed with significant therapeutic effect. The body fat mass showed a reversal of the rapid progression while on the treatment, associated with an increase in the resting metabolic rate.