FAMILIAL COMBINED HYPERLIPIDEMIA - DETECT ION AND CHARACTERIZATION OFTHE HYPERLIPIDEMIC PROFILE AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

BACKGROUND: Familiar combined hyperlipidemia is the commonest genetic form of hyperlipidemia among survivors of myocardial infarction and, t herefore, its early detection is crucial for the prevention of coronar y artery disease. The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence of hyperlipidemia in the offspring of affected families and to charac terize their lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profile. PATENTS AN D METHODS: Forty five subjects below the age of 19 were studied from w hich 30 were from affected families and 15 from healthy control famili es. Cholesterol and triglycerides in plasma, VLDL, IDL, LDL and HDL as well as apolipoproteins Al, B, C-ll and C-lll were measured. RESULTS: Hyperlipidemia was detected in 13 children (43%) from affected famili es. They also presented significantly elevated concentrations of chole sterol in plasma (p < 0.0001), LDL (p < 0.0001) and HDL (p < 0.05); tr iglycerides in plasma (p < 0.007), VLDL (p < 0.05) and LDL (p < 0.008) , together with significantly increased concentrations of apolipoprote ins Al (p < 0.02), B (p < 0.0004), C-ll (p < 0.0005) and C-III (p < 0. 03), No changes were observed in the IDL fraction. CONCLUSIONS: There is an elevated prevalence of hyperlipidemia among the offspring of pat ients with familial combined hyperlipidemia, On the contrary to that o bserved in adults, no alterations of the IDL fraction are present amon g affected children.