Low-Dose d-Amphetamine Induced Regression of Liver Fat Deposits in Dercum Disease

Abstract

Background: Dercum disease is a rare disorder of painful subcutaneous adipose tissue masses typically presenting as a constellation of signs and symptoms affecting most organs, including slow lymphatic flow and fatty liver.

Method: The University of Arizona Institutional Review Board considered this report exempt after patient consent. Multislice, multisequence magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen and pelvis was performed prior to and after d-amphetamine, with and without intravenous gadolinium.

Results: Initial MRI demonstrated hepatic steatosis in Case 1; Case 2 had 2-subcentimeter lipid foci within the liver. Initiation of 10-20 mg d-amphetamine decreased liver lipid deposition from 16% to 4% in Case 1 and resolved fat deposits in Case 2 after ~1 year.

Conclusion: There is a dire need for novel treatment options for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to prevent progression to cirrhosis. Reduction of liver fat by d-amphetamine suggests a potential therapeutic role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Keywords: Dercum disease; Dextroamphetamine; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.