GLUCOSE-INTOLERANCE IN FAMILIAL COMBINED HYPERLIPIDEMIA

Background Familial combined hyperlipidaemia (FCHL) is a common heredi tary disorder. Hypertriglyceridaemia is associated with glucose intole rance and insulin resistance. Methods To study glucose tolerance in FC HL patients with different lipid phenotypes [hypercholesterolaemia (II A), mixed hyperlipidaemia (IIB), hypertriglyceridaemia (IV)I, we inves tigated 253 family members and 92 spouses arising from 33 well-defined Finnish FCHL pedigrees. Results In oral glucose tolerance tests. the affected family members had higher values for glucose area under the c urve than did non-affected family members (673 +/- 127 min mmol L-1, 7 54 +/- 145 min mmol L-1, 846 +/- 180 min mmol L-1 and 838 +/- 183 min mmol L-1 for phenotypes normal, IIA, IIB and IV respectively; P<0.001 after adjustment for body mass index, waist circumference and age). Im paired glucose tolerance and diabetes were more common among affected than non-affected family members (prevalences of normal glucose tolera nce 94.0%, 80.0%, 54.3% and 58.5% for phenotypes normal, IIA, IIB and IV). Conclusion Affected FCHL family members were more glucose intoler ant than nonaffected family members. In men, this disturbance was not related to lipid phenotype nor was it explained by obesity.