Topic Overview
A familial lipid disorder is a condition that runs in families. It causes very high levels of cholesterol. This condition can cause a person to get coronary artery disease (CAD) while still young.
Because familial lipid disorders are rare, your doctor may only suspect one if you have:
- Very high cholesterol levels. For example, LDL cholesterol might be over 4.9 mmol/L (190 mg/dL). Total cholesterol might be over 7.7 mmol/L (300 mg/dL).
- A family history of high cholesterol.
- A family history of early CAD.
- Certain results from a physical examination. These results include xanthomas, a skin condition in which small bumps of fat appear under the skin.
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 cardiologists specialize in lipid disorders as well as heart problems.
Types of familial lipid disorders
There are different types of lipid disorders. They include:
-
Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL)
- High total cholesterol
- High LDL (such as more than 4.9 mmol/L [190 mg/dL])
- High triglycerides
- Low HDL
-
Familial defective apolipoprotein B-100
- High LDL (such as 4.1 to 7.7 mmol/L [160 to 300 mg/dL])
-
Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (type 3 hyperlipoproteinemia)
- High total cholesterol and high triglyceride levels (from 7.7 to 25.8 mmol/L [300 to 1,000 mg/dL])
-
Familial hypertriglyceridemia
- Very high triglycerides (such as 5.1 to 12.9 mmol/L [200 to 500 mg/dL])
-
Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
- High LDL (such as 4.9 to 9.0 mmol/L [190 to 350 mg/dL])
Related Information
References
Other Works Consulted
- Genest J (2015). Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In DL Mann et al., eds., Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 10th ed., pp. 980–1000. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Credits
Current as of: December 16, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Donald Sproule MDCM, CCFP - Family Medicine
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine
Robert A. Kloner MD, PhD - Cardiology
Rakesh K. Pai MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology
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Current as of: December 16, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Donald Sproule MDCM, CCFP - Family Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine & Robert A. Kloner MD, PhD - Cardiology & Rakesh K. Pai MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology