Topic Overview
A familial lipid disorder is a condition that runs in families. It causes very high levels of . This condition can cause a person to get while still young. Because familial lipid
disorders are rare, your doctor may only suspect one if you have:
- Very high cholesterol levels.
- A
of
.
- A family history of
early CAD.
- Certain results from a physical exam.
Your family doctor may not have much experience with familial lipid disorders, so you may have to see a specialist, such as an endocrinologist. And some
specialize in lipid disorders as well as
heart problems.
Types of familial lipid disordersDisorder | Cholesterol level | Other details |
|---|
| Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) | - High total cholesterol, usually with high
- High triglycerides and low
| - Appears in adulthood
- Happens more often in families with
,
, and
|
| Familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 | | |
| Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (type 3
hyperlipoproteinemia) | - Total cholesterol of 300–600
- Triglyceride of 400–800
| - CAD,
, and
at a young age
- Xanthomas, a skin condition in which small bumps of fat appear under the skin
|
| Familial hypertriglyceridemia | | - Risk for even higher triglycerides from
other causes
|
| Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia | - Total cholesterol of 325–450
| - CAD before age 50
- Small, pale ring around the
of the eye
- Xanthomas on tendons in
young adults
|
| Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia | - Total cholesterol of 500–1,000
| - CAD before age 20
- Xanthomas on tendons within the first few months of
life
|