Familial Lipid Disorders

A familial lipid disorder is a condition that runs in families. It causes very high levels of Reference cholesterol Opens New Window. This condition can cause a person to get Reference coronary artery disease (CAD) Opens New Window while still young.

Because familial lipid disorders are rare, your doctor may only suspect one if you have:

• Very high cholesterol levels. For example, Reference LDL Opens New Window cholesterol might be over 190 mg/dL. Total cholesterol might be over 300 mg/dL.
• A family history of Reference high cholesterol Opens New Window.
• A family history of early CAD.
• Certain results from a physical exam. 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 Reference cardiologists Opens New Window 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 190 mg/dL)
  • High Reference triglycerides Opens New Window
  • Low Reference HDL Opens New Window
• Familial defective apolipoprotein B-100
  • High LDL (such as 160 to 300 mg/dL)
• Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (type 3 hyperlipoproteinemia)
  • High total cholesterol and high triglyceride levels (from 300 to 1,000 mg/dL)
• Familial hypertriglyceridemia
  • Very high triglycerides (such as 200 to 500 mg/dL)
• Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
  • High LDL (such as 190 to 350 mg/dL)

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