What is familial hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia is characterized by severely elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) “bad” cholesterol levels that lead to atherosclerotic plaque deposition in the coronary arteries and proximal aorta at an early age, leading to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The gene that causes familial hypercholesterolemia is inherited. Familial hypercholesterolemia is present from birth and because a defect (mutation) in a gene changes how your body processes cholesterol. In familial hypercholesterolemia patients, genetic mutations make the liver incapable of metabolizing (or removing) excess low-density lipoprotein (LDL) “bad” cholesterol, from your blood. The result is very high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) “bad” cholesterol levels which can lead to atherosclerotic plaques deposition in the coronary arteries and proximal aorta occurring at an early age, leading over time to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and even narrowing of your heart valves, which by definition includes coronary artery disease (coronary heart disease) manifesting as angina and myocardial infarction [heart attack] and stroke ¹⁾.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is the most common inherited cardiovascular disease:

• About 1 in 200-250 people worldwide have familial hypercholesterolemia ²⁾
• In the United States alone, an estimated 1.3 million people live with familial hypercholesterolemia. Yet only 10% of them are diagnosed. Nearly 2 million people in the US might have familial hypercholesterolemia and not even know it. Perhaps they won’t know it until they have a heart attack.
• Over 90% of people with familial hypercholesterolemia have not been properly diagnosed ³⁾
• Familial hypercholesterolemia runs in families. If one parent has familial hypercholesterolemia, each child has a 50% chance of having familial hypercholesterolemia ⁴⁾
• If left untreated, men have a 50% rise of having a heart attack by age 50. Untreated women have a 30% risk by age 60 ⁵⁾
• 1 in 160,000 to 1 in 1 million people have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia ⁶⁾. Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is more likely to occur in countries where the prevalence of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is very high, especially those where consanguinity (marriage between relatives) is common.
• Familial hypercholesterolemia is even more common in certain populations such as French Canadians, Ashkenazi Jews, Lebanese, and South African Afrikaners. Lebanese Christians (1 in every 85 people), Afrikaners in South Africa (1/72 – 1/100), French Canadians (1 in every 270 people), and Ashkenazi Jews originating from Lithuania (1 in every 67 people) known as a founder affect.

The vast majority of the cholesterol circulating in a person’s body is produced by the liver. Cholesterol is a necessary component in the structure and function of human cells. Individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia are unable to recycle this natural supply of cholesterol that their bodies are constantly producing. Therefore, the cholesterol levels of an individual with familial hypercholesterolemia are exceedingly high. Over time the elevated blood cholesterol can lead to blockages in the arteries of the heart and/or brain. The longer a person experiences high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) “bad” cholesterol, the more likely he or she will be to experience angina and myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and strokes. As familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder, even when affected children are still in their mother’s womb they are “bathing” in their own high cholesterol. The process of vascular disease therefore can have its origins even prior to your children’s birth. Untreated familial hypercholesterolemia, men are at a 50% risk for a fatal or non-fatal coronary event by age 50 years; untreated women are at a 30% risk by age 60 years. ⁷⁾. (See Figure 2 below). Familial hypercholesterolemia likely accounts for 2%-3% of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) in individuals younger than age 60 years.

Familial hypercholesterolemia gene mutations are passed from parent to child. To have the condition, children need to inherit an altered copy of the gene from one parent.

There are two forms of familial hypercholesterolemia:

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

• If you have inherited this genetic mutation from one parent, then you will have Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia occurs in 1 in 250 people worldwide. Most people with familial hypercholesterolemia have one affected gene and one normal gene (heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia). An estimated 70%-95% of familial hypercholesterolemia results from a heterozygous pathogenic variant in one of three genes (APOB, LDLR, PCSK9).
• Until recently, it was believed that 1/500 people (630,000 people in the U.S.) had heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia while about 1/1,000,000 people (300 people in the U.S.) had homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. New studies suggest that heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia are more common. It is now believed that 1/250 people (or 1.3 million people in the U.S. alone) have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and 1/160,000 (or 2,000 people in the U.S.) have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Even though homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is still rare, it is a lot more common than we once thought. If you think that you or someone you know may have familial hypercholesterolemia, talk to your doctor.
• Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: LDL-C > 160 mg/dL (4 mmol/L) for children and >190 mg/dL (5 mmol/L) for adults and with one first degree relative similarly affected or with positive genetic testing for an LDL-C raising gene defect (LDL receptor [LDLR], apolipoprotein-B [apo B] or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 [PCSK9])

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

• If you inherit familial hypercholesterolemia from both parents, it is much more severe in its consequences. This form of familial hypercholesterolemia is called Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is very rare, occurring in about 1 in 160,000 to one million people worldwide. Most individuals with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia experience severe coronary artery disease by their mid-20s and the rate of either death or coronary bypass surgery by the teenage years is high. Severe aortic stenosis is also common.
• Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: LDL-C > 400 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) and one or both parents:
  1. having clinically diagnosed familial hypercholesterolemia,
  2. positive genetic testing for an LDL-C raising (LDL receptor, apo B or PCSK9) gene defect, or
  3. autosomal recessive familial hypercholesterolemia If LDL-C > 560 mg/dL (14 mmol/L) or LDL-C > 400 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) with
  4. aortic valve disease or
  5. xanthomata at less than 20 years of age, homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia highly likely.

Doctors measure blood cholesterol in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Adults with familial hypercholesterolemia may have untreated low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) “bad” cholesterol levels that range from 190mg/dL to 400mg/dL or even higher. Children with familial hypercholesterolemia generally have low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) “bad” cholesterol levels above 160mg/dL, but in pre-teens, levels can be even lower.

• High-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) “good” cholesterol levels are desirable and somewhat protect against coronary heart disease.
• High LDL-C “bad” cholesterol levels are undesirable and contribute to coronary heart disease risk.

Triglycerides, another blood fat, come from the diet and are also produced in the liver. When extremely elevated, triglycerides can cause pancreatitis and can also increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease. High triglycerides are generally not present in people with familial hypercholesterolemia.

All individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia should be considered “high risk” (i.e., increased ~20-fold) for coronary artery disease (coronary heart disease). Recent data suggest that individuals with an LDL “bad” cholesterol >190 mg/dL (>4.9 mmol/L) and a pathogenic variant in one of the genes (APOB, LDLR, PCSK9 & unknown genes) have a 22-fold increased risk for coronary heart disease, while those without a pathogenic variant have a sixfold increased risk for coronary artery disease over the general population ⁸⁾.

Figure 1. Familial hypercholesterolemia inheritance pattern

Note: HeFH = Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; HoFH = Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

Figure 2. LDL cholesterol burden in individuals with or without familial hypercholesterolemia as a function of the age of initiation of Statin therapy

Family history of early heart disease + High LDL- “bad” cholesterol = Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Therefore, if you have familial hypercholesterolemia, your LDL-cholesterol levels will be very high, leading to narrowing or blockage of blood vessels (atherosclerosis). This process starts prior to birth and can ultimately result in heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. Because people with familial hypercholesterolemia have excessive cholesterol levels since before their birth, their risk of heart disease is 20 times greater than that of the general population. If a child has Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (inherited the familial hypercholesterolemia gene from both parents), she is exposed to an even higher risk, because her LDL-cholesterol levels are extraordinarily elevated and lead to progressive heart disease very early in life (often in the teens). Other cardiovascular disease risk factors include smoking, over-weight, high blood pressure, and a sedentary life. If you have familial hypercholesterolemia, eliminate smoking, control your weight and blood pressure, and lead a physically active lifestyle. All these are important factors, together with medical therapy and a healthful diet, in lowering your risk of an early heart attack.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a lifelong condition. It’s not a temporary condition, like the common cold; it’s in your genes. When you have familial hypercholesterolemia, the most important step to take is therapies prescribed by your physician. But while this is the most essential measure, it’s not the only one. Familial hypercholesterolemia also means controlling weight, not smoking, eating a balanced diet low in saturated fat, and exercising. What is more, Familial hypercholesterolemia means bringing your family together to understand the impact of this disease. Familial hypercholesterolemia means living healthy, as individuals and as a family.

The good news is familial hypercholesterolemia is treatable! If familial hypercholesterolemia is found early, serious problems of the heart and blood vessels may be prevented or dramatically delayed by taking steps to protect yourself. These include:

• Not smoking.
• Exercising regularly.
• Eating a healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats.
• Taking medications.
• Going on LDL-apheresis.

Familial hypercholesterolemia in almost all cases requires aggressive treatment through a combined approach – medication, low-fat diet, exercise, weight control and not smoking. Familial hypercholesterolemia involves heart-healthy meals, regular exercise to get the blood flowing, controlling your weight and eliminating smoking. Because obesity and smoking are risk factors for heart disease and those with familial hypercholesterolemia are already at a 20 times higher risk, it is important to adapt to a healthy lifestyle.

Nearly 100% of people with familial hypercholesterolemia will require cholesterol-lowering medications. For some people with familial hypercholesterolemia, more aggressive measures are needed, including LDL-apheresis (a very simple procedure in which LDL-C cholesterol is removed from the blood on a weekly or biweekly basis.)

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that if a family has a pattern of early heart attacks or heart disease defined as before age 55 for men and 65 for women, children in that family should have cholesterol testing after the age of 2 years and before age 10.

It is important to find familial hypercholesterolemia and take action at any age, because when treated, the risk of heart disease can be reduced to levels similar to those of the general population.

Is there a cure for familial hypercholesterolemia?

Familial hypercholesterolemia is not curable. However, it is treatable. Now, more than ever, there are various treatment options for people with Familial hypercholesterolemia. This realistically means that individuals with Familial hypercholesterolemia could lead normal lives, if diagnosed early and treated adequately.

What is the difference between Heterozygous and Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia?

Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (Hefamilial hypercholesterolemia) is the most common form of familial hypercholesterolemia (1 in 250 worldwide have it) caused when a child inherits one copy of a “bad gene” from one parent. Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (Hofamilial hypercholesterolemia) is a very rare, but extremely severe form of familial hypercholesterolemia (roughly 1 in 160,000 have it) caused when a child gets a “bad gene” from both parents. Typically, Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia remains invisible for longer and Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia manifests itself earlier, with more visible signs such as xanthomas (bumps or lumps in the skin which are deposits of excess fat) and corneal arcus (a white arc near the colored part of the eye, which is often found by an ophthalmologist).

How is Familial Hypercholesterolemia different from Hypercholesterolemia/Hyperlipidemia?

Your clue here is “Familial”. By definition, hypercholesterolemia (or hyperlipidemia) simply means high cholesterol. However, Familial Hypercholesterolemia is a lifelong condition that is inherited. Otherwise put, your genes cause it. Therefore, it is a lot more serious than simply having high cholesterol caused from diet and it requires more aggressive treatment. familial hypercholesterolemia is a life-threatening disorder.

One of the most common scenarios in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia is being told that they have high cholesterol and that they need to change their diet. However, with familial hypercholesterolemia, eliminating fried foods and cheesecake from your diet is not enough. While saturated foods should be completely avoided, your high LDL-cholesterol mainly has to do with your genes/ your family’s medical history. With familial hypercholesterolemia, the cause of your high cholesterol is NOT your diet. Even if you ate nothing but oats and fruits, you would still have high LDL-cholesterol because of your liver’s inability to keep up with recycling and removing it.

How is familial hypercholesterolemia diagnosed? Is there a specific blood test for it?

Diagnosis can be strongly suspected based on cholesterol levels (also called a lipid test or lipid panel). The diagnosis can be confirmed through additional information about your personal and family medical history, and certain physical exam findings (like xanthomas, bumps or lumps of cholesterol deposits on the skin). Learn more about familial hypercholesterolemia diagnosis in a section below.

I have been diagnosed with Familial hypercholesterolemia but I don’t want to take medication. Can I lower my cholesterol through a low-fat diet?

Familial hypercholesterolemia causes excessively high LDL-cholesterol levels. This is dangerous as it leads to cholesterol getting built up in your blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and even death. While it is important to be mindful of your diet, this is almost never enough to manage your condition.

In all cases, familial hypercholesterolemia requires aggressive treatment. Consult an familial hypercholesterolemia specialist to find the best therapy regime for you.

What is Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy substance which is mainly made in your body. It is one of several blood lipids (fatty substances) found in your blood. Your body makes most of its own cholesterol in the liver. You also get a small amount of cholesterol from some foods such as eggs, liver and kidneys, and seafood such as prawns.

Cholesterol plays a vital role in how every cell in your body works. It’s also the material that your body uses to make other vital chemicals such as vitamin D, bile to aid digestion, and some hormones such as cortisol, oestrogen and testosterone. It is especially important for growth when many new cells are being formed very quickly, for example, in children or during pregnancy. However, too much cholesterol in your blood can increase your risk of getting diseases of the heart and circulation.

LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol

Cholesterol and other fats have a special way of reaching all the cells in your body that need it. They use your blood circulation as their ‘road system’ and are carried on ‘vehicles’ made up of proteins. These combinations of fats and proteins are called lipoproteins.

There are two main types of lipoproteins – LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein).

• Low-density lipoproteins – sometimes called LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) or ‘bad cholesterol’ – carry most of the cholesterol from your liver, through the bloodstream, to where it is needed. About 70 per cent of the cholesterol in your body is carried by LDL. The lower the density of the lipoprotein, the more fats it contains, so having high LDL is harmful to you.
• High-density lipoproteins – sometimes called HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) or ‘good cholesterol’ – return the extra cholesterol, that isn’t needed, from your cells and your bloodstream to your liver for recycling. HDL cholesterol is a ‘good’ type of cholesterol because it removes cholesterol from your bloodstream. This helps prevent the cholesterol from being deposited in the arteries and causing atheroma (atherosclerosis).

Your total cholesterol level is the total of the LDL, HDL and other fats in your blood.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are another type of fatty substance found in your blood. You get some triglycerides from foods such as dairy products, meat and cooking oils.

Triglycerides can also be produced in your body, either by your body’s fat stores or in the liver. If you are very overweight, eat a lot of fatty and sugary foods, or drink too much alcohol, you are more likely to have a high triglyceride level. Triglyceride levels increase after a meal and are normally cleared from the bloodstream over the following hours. They are usually at their lowest first thing in the morning before breakfast.

What is the cause of familial hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited genetic condition affecting cholesterol metabolism.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is caused by mutation in the gene for the LDL receptor, which is involved in LDL recycling. Mutations in other genes can also cause inherited high cholesterol. Those genes include the PCSK9 gene and the gene for Apolipoprotein B.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is an autosomal dominant disorder with essentially complete penetrance. What this means is that if you have inherited the familial hypercholesterolemia gene, you will have high LDL-cholesterol (and will require therapy to lower your LDL-cholesterol). In addition, each of your children will have a 50% chance of having familial hypercholesterolemia. If someone else in your family has familial hypercholesterolemia (like a brother or a sister) and has high LDL cholesterol but you have totally normal LDL-cholesterol, then you will not pass on the familial hypercholesterolemia gene to your children. However, if someone in your family has familial hypercholesterolemia and your cholesterol is “borderline” or mildly elevated (ask your physician what LDL-cholesterol levels would be considered borderline or elevated in your case), there is a chance that you have familial hypercholesterolemia and could pass it along to your children. In this case a consultation with a lipid specialist should be considered. Generally, if an adult’s LDL-cholesterol is less than 160 mg/dL without taking cholesterol-lowering medication, there is a very low chance that they have familial hypercholesterolemia. If an adult has an LDL cholesterol level > 190mg/dL there is a stronger suspicion for Familial hypercholesterolemia.

In familial hypercholesterolemia there is a “dose effect” so that homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (two defective genes – one from each parent) is more severe than heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (one defective and one normal gene).

• Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia occurs when a child inherits a nonfunctional copy of one of their familial hypercholesterolemia genes from an affected parent and a functional copy from their unaffected parent. Each egg or sperm they produce has a 50% chance of getting the nonfunctional copy (passing down familial hypercholesterolemia) and a 50% chance of getting the functional copy, Therefore, the risk of passing the familial hypercholesterolemia from the affected parent to a child is 50% in each pregnancy. New, spontaneous variants appear to be very rare.
• Most individuals with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia have inherited one mutated gene from each parent, such that each parent has heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. These parents have a 25% risk in each pregnancy to have a child with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, a 50% chance of having a child with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and a 25% chance that the child will inherit a normal gene from each parent. The risk is the same for males and females.

If you have Familial hypercholesterolemia, each of your children has a 50% chance of having familial hypercholesterolemia.

• When one parent has heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and the other has homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, there is a 50% chance with each pregnancy to have a child with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and a 50% chance to have a child with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
• When one parent has homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and the other has two normal genes, all children will have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
• When both parents have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, all children will have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Figure 3. Familial hypercholesterolemia autosomal dominant inheritance pattern

There are two forms of Familial hypercholesterolemia.

1. Heterozygous (HeFM) – Heterozygous Familial hypercholesterolemia inherited from only 1 parent
2. Homozygous (HoFM) – Homozygous Familial hypercholesterolemia inherited from both parents (patients with Homozygous Familial hypercholesterolemia are at an even higher risk of early heart disease)

If Familial hypercholesterolemia is left untreated, it can lead to heart disease, heart attack, or stroke.

Familial hypercholesterolemia genetics

Parents can give a disorder to their children through their DNA, which is made up of genes. Genes have all the characteristics that a person gets from their parents (such as eye color, hair color, height, etc.), and some may be mutated and not work properly. When a person gets a mutated gene, they can have mild or severe problems depending on the type of mutation.

LDL is generated in the circulation by the delipidation and modification of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) secreted by the liver. There are three different genes that may be mutated in familial hypercholesterolemia. The most common gene codes for a protein called the LDL receptor (LDLR). LDL receptors in the liver remove LDL-C “bad cholesterol” from the blood. A LDL receptor (LDLR) gene variant is the most common cause of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, accounting for ~90% of pathogenic variants. If a person has a mutated gene for the LDL receptor, the level of LDL-C “bad cholesterol” in his or her blood will increase. Genes that make other proteins, such as proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB), may also be mutated and decrease the removal of LDL-C “bad cholesterol” from the blood. If a person has a mutated gene for any of these proteins, the level of cholesterol in her or her blood will increase.

Apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) is the major structural apoprotein of VLDL and LDL. LDL is cleared from the circulation by hepatic LDL-receptor with apoB100 acting as the ligand for the receptor. A pathogenic variant in the APOB gene is responsible for ~10% of familial hypercholesterolemia cases; this variation is seen most commonly in those of European Caucasian ancestry. Apolipoprotein B-100 is a protein that binds to LDL receptors, which enables uptake of lipoproteins by the liver and reduces the cholesterol level in the blood. Pathogenic variants in the APOB gene lead to faulty uptake and increased cholesterol level. The major pathophysiological abnormality in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is decreased LDL clearance although hepatic overproduction of apoB100-containing lipoproteins may further exacerbate the hyperlipidaemia.

PCSK9 gene variants are responsible for only a small percentage of familial hypercholesterolemia cases. The normal PCSK9 gene codes for an enzyme that breaks down the cholesterol receptors after they have done their job. A pathogenic variant in this gene is unlike most variants, which cause dysfunction of the affected gene. The PCSK9 variant increases the gene’s function, leading to too few remaining LDL receptors and thus an increase in the LDL cholesterol level.

People can have one or two of these mutated genes. When a person has one of these mutated genes (either for the LDL receptor, PCSK9, or ApoB), he or she has heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. So, the difference between heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is that a person with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia has two mutated genes. Two mutated genes greatly increase a person’s blood cholesterol level and the risk of a heart attack.

I have been diagnosed with Familial hypercholesterolemia. I want to get my family tested, but they refuse. How do I convince them?

First and foremost it is important to remember that familial hypercholesterolemia runs in families. If you have familial hypercholesterolemia, the question isn’t “Does anyone else in my family have it?”. The question is “Who in my family has it?”. Of course, only you know how to best approach your relatives. But make sure they fully understand that this is a lifelong condition that requires consistent treatment and the sooner they rule it out, the better.

I have heard the term “cascade screening” in relation to familial hypercholesterolemia. What is cascade screening?

Cascade screening is not a certain type of blood test or certain kind of examination. It is simply a method of finding individuals with Familial Hypercholesterolemia. This method consists of screening entire families for familial hypercholesterolemia. Because familial hypercholesterolemia is genetic, this means that more than one person in a family has it (because they inherited it from someone else). Cascade screening means that when a health professional diagnoses someone with familial hypercholesterolemia, they need to test the rest of their immediate family members for familial hypercholesterolemia too.

Familial hypercholesterolemia prevention

Familial hypercholesterolemia is not preventable per se. You either inherit the gene (or genes) or you don’t. What you could potentially prevent, however, is the heart disease associated with it. Scientists like to say that with familial hypercholesterolemia you inherit the condition, but not the heart attack. If left untreated, familial hypercholesterolemia leads to early and aggressive heart disease, atherosclerosis (narrowing and blocking of the blood vessels), and heart attacks. This is why early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is a rare but exceedingly aggressive form of familial hypercholesterolemia. If both parents have familial hypercholesterolemia, there is a 25% chance that their child or children will have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (along with a 50% chance that their children will have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia). However, if a child is diagnosed with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, that means both parents have some form of familial hypercholesterolemia.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia leads to aggressive atherosclerosis (narrowing and blocking of blood vessels). This process starts even before birth and progresses rapidly. It can affect the coronary arteries, carotid arteries, aorta, and aortic valve . If left untreated, heart attack or sudden death are likely to occur as early as the teenage years and sometimes even in early childhood.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is much less common than heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, but lives can be saved if it is identified and treated early in childhood. When a person with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is not treated with medications, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, “bad cholesterol”) level is between 500-1000 mg/dL – over 4 times the normal level.

The prevalence of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is markedly increased in certain regions of the world and may be as high as one in thirty thousand in some populations. Populations with a very high prevalence of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia include Afrikaners in South Africa, French Canadians, Christian Lebanese and Japanese from the Hokuriku district. These regions are characterized by a high prevalence of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (estimated to be one in seventy to a hundred for Afrikaners in South Africa) which results from founder effects that occur when small, isolated populations increase in size rapidly with little outside genetic admixture ⁹⁾.

It is important to remember that homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is a serious medical condition and is life-threatening if not treated at a young age, preferably beginning in early childhood. A child or adult with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia needs life-long medications and other specialized treatments to lower the LDL-C and prevent heart attacks. This requires the expertise of a lipid specialist.

My Child has homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) – what do I need to know?

Many couples learn that they both have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) when they have a baby who has homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). When two people with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia have a child, they have a 1 in 4 (25%) chance that their child will have a completely normal cholesterol profile, a 2 in 4 (50%) chance that their child will have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, in which case the child will have an LDL level similar to his/her parents, and finally a 1 in 4 (25%) chance that the child will have inherited a gene for familial hypercholesterolemia from each parent, in which case the child will have a cholesterol level far exceeding either parent’s level (see Figure 3 – Familial hypercholesterolemia autosomal dominant inheritance pattern – above). These children are often diagnosed at around the age of 2 when they develop xanthomas (orange cholesterol deposits on the elbows, buttocks, legs, ankles, on the tendons of the fingers and between the fingers). These physical findings prompt a cholesterol profile. In children with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, the LDL cholesterol is often over 500 and can be as high as 1000 mg/dL.

• Children with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia must see a lipodologist for immediate cholesterol lowering therapies

If your child has homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, he or she will require immediate cholesterol lowering medications. Your child’s response to the medications depends on their particular genetic mutation. Some children will respond quite well to high dose statins combined with exetimibe (Zetia®) and a bile acid sequestrant. Other children will require more heroic measures such as LDL-apheresis. This is a procedure in which LDL cholesterol is physically removed from the blood every week. In the past, liver transplant was often considered in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia patients, but it is rarely necessary today. Children with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia require close follow-up with a cholesterol specialist. Children with untreated homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia develop very early atherosclerosis, often experiencing heart attacks in their teens. It is therefore crucial to treat children with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia early and aggressively. Because the aortic valve (all the blood in the heart passes through this valve on its way to the body) can develop cholesterol plaque in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, children with this diagnosis often undergo much more involved heart evaluations than do children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. This can include heart catheterizations and echocardiograms. The future is bright for children with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia – there are many new treatments being studied which have the potential to lower their LDL level profoundly.

Women with familial hypercholesterolemia and pregnancy

What will happen to my cholesterol level during pregnancy?

Cholesterol increases significantly during pregnancy by about 25-50%. Women with familial hypercholesterolemia experience the same increase, but since they are starting out at a much higher baseline, they can get extremely high cholesterol during pregnancy.

What if I become pregnant while on a statin?

If you become pregnant, stop your statin medications immediately. Other cholesterol lowering medications, including Niacin and ezetimibe (Zetia©), should also be stopped. Fibrates such as feno-brate and gem-brozil are typically not used in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. These are primarily triglyceride-lowering medications, but if you are on one of these medications, it too should be stopped. In terms of the risk associated with taking cholesterol lowering medications during pregnancy, there are conflicting reports in the literature. In animal studies, some statins have been found to cause skeletal defects. Ezetimibe, niacin, and fibrates have all been associated with birth defects, too. Since we don’t recommend these agents during pregnancy, the human data comes from women who have unplanned pregnancies. In most cases the cholesterol-lowering medications were stopped in the first trimester, and although most babies were perfectly normal, there have been some rare reports of structural birth defects. Should you inadvertently take a statin or other cholesterol-lowering medication during pregnancy we recommend seeing an obstetrician for an immediate assessment.

Can I continue to take my cholesterol medications during pregnancy?

With the exception of the bile acid sequestrants such as Welchol©, cholesterol-lowering medications should be stopped prior to pregnancy to avoid extremely high cholesterol. The bile acid sequestrants are not absorbed into your blood stream so they pose no risk to you or your baby. The guidelines on when to stop cholesterol-lowering medications vary. The National Lipid Association recommends discontinuation of cholesterol-lowering medications 4 weeks prior to attempting to become pregnant. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines, on the other hand, recommend stopping cholesterol-lowering medications 3 months before attempting to conceive. Both the National Lipid Association and National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines caution women not to take cholesterol medications during pregnancy or while nursing. Some women with familial hypercholesterolemia might be off their cholesterol-lowering medications for a prolonged period of time in order to become pregnant. The longer you are off your cholesterol-lowering medications, the greater the possibility that you will have plaque build-up in your heart arteries and potentially accumulate extremely high cholesterol as well.

How can I keep my cholesterol under control during pregnancy?

Women with familial hypercholesterolemia must come off their cholesterol lowering medications (except bile acid sequestrants) during pregnancy – this increases your cholesterol immediately. Then, just like everyone else, between the 18-36th week of pregnancy cholesterol can increase by as much as 50%. Eating a low fat, low cholesterol diet during pregnancy is extremely important, and if you have not been on a bile acid sequestrants such as Welchol© in the past it is important to begin. Welchol© is not absorbed into your blood stream so is safe during pregnancy. Some people notice some gastrointestinal disturbances (gas) with Welchol© but this agent does lower the LDL-Cholesterol by about 15%, so it seems worth the effort. Again, it is important to emphasize the benefits of diet. We encourage you to work with a registered dietitian who has experience in either a lipid, cardiology, or endocrinology clinic.

Each time you have a baby, you have a 50/50 chance of passing on the abnormal gene.

Is my baby likely to inherit familial hypercholesterolemia?

If you have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, then your baby has a 50% chance of having familial hypercholesterolemia (see Figure 3 above). In the same way that you inherited a gene for LDL cholesterol removal from each of your parents, your baby will inherit one gene for LDL cholesterol removal from you and one from your partner. Because you have one normal gene and one abnormal gene, each time you have a baby you have a 50/50 chance of passing on the abnormal gene. If you have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or your partner also has heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, then the stakes are much higher and it is recommend you see a lipid specialist or genetic counselor. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder characterized by very high LDL-cholesterol. Familial hypercholesterolemia is an autosomal dominant disorder (see Figure 3 above), which means if you inherit a single gene for familial hypercholesterolemia from one of your parents, you will have familial hypercholesterolemia. Other disorders are autosomal recessive disorders in which you must inherit a gene from each parent in order to display the disease. Although scientists still have much more to learn about the genetics of familial hypercholesterolemia, they know that most people with familial hypercholesterolemia have a defect in the gene for the LDL receptor (LDLR). This is a receptor that sits on your liver cells and allows you to remove LDL cholesterol from your blood stream. Having one defective LDL receptor leads to about a doubling of the normal LDL cholesterol level in the blood. There are other less common genetic defects that can lead to similar LDL levels. These include a defect in apolipoprotein B (Apo B), which is the protein on LDL cholesterol that allows the LDL receptor to recognize and remove LDL-Cholesterol from the blood. Still an even rarer defect is a “Gain of Function” mutation in PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9). PCSK9 is a protein that is responsible for destroying LDL receptors. If your PCSK9 works too well it will destroy more LDL receptors and you will be left with an elevated LDL cholesterol. There are probably other genetic defects leading to familial hypercholesterolemia that we have not yet discovered for predicting and regulating extremely high cholesterol.

Should I become pregnant?

This is a personal choice and something you need to discuss with your partner and your health care team. It is important to know that if your cholesterol rises dramatically during pregnancy, there are some options. One such option is LDL-apheresis. This is a dialysis-like procedure that physically removes LDL-cholesterol from the blood stream on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This 3-hour procedure involves removing blood from one arm and passing it through a special column designed to extract the LDL cholesterol, then returning the blood to the other arm. LDL-apheresis has been successfully performed during pregnancy on many young women with very high cholesterol levels. Other women are successfully managed with diet and bile acid sequestrants. Finally, there are many ways to create a family. Some people choose to adopt and others create a family with the help of a gestational surrogate.

Should I Nurse My Baby?

Although everyone must decide what is best for their family, most lipid specialists would advise limiting breast feeding to 6 months, at which point you can resume your cholesterol lowering medications.

If I have trouble getting pregnant should I consider infertility medications?

Many infertility medications increase cholesterol dramatically. If you are contemplating infertility treatments, it is crucial for you to have a cholesterol specialist, also known as a lipidologist. Your lipidologist should work closely with your infertility physician. You should monitor your cholesterol very closely during these treatments and have a plan for limiting the number of cycles you go through.

Men with familial hypercholesterolemia

Why do men tend to experience heart disease a decade earlier than the women in their family?

Although the answer to this is not 100% certain, there are likely several reasons. The first is puberty. As young men go through puberty, their HDL “good cholesterol” (protective cholesterol) tends to fall. This does not happen to young women. A low HDL is an additional risk factor for early heart disease. Thus not only is a young man with familial hypercholesterolemia at risk due to his elevated LDL, compared to the women in his family, he very likely has a lower HDL. Additionally, women (even women with familial hypercholesterolemia) tend to be relatively protected from symptomatic heart disease until menopause – probably due to estrogen. An aside to women reading this: please notice the word symptomatic. Although it is unusual for a woman with familial hypercholesterolemia to have a heart attack before menopause, your elevated LDL cholesterol means you are still putting cholesterol into your artery wall. Women have smaller heart arteries than men, and it doesn’t take long after going through menopause to block those arteries – so women need to be treated early, too. In the past, but not currently, more men than women smoked. Smoking is poison for everyone, but for people with familial hypercholesterolemia, smoking is doubly poisonous. Smoking can lower the HDL and leads to chemical modifications (oxidation) of LDL. Oxidized LDL is more dangerous than non-oxidized LDL. It is therefore possible that in the past, smoking set men with familial hypercholesterolemia up for earlier heart disease than their non-smoking female relatives. The bottom line is that if you smoke you should quit!

Are men less likely to be treated for their elevated LDL than women?

Once a man develops heart disease, there is no evidence that men are less likely to be aggressively treated for their cholesterol. In fact, in the past there was even evidence that women were less aggressively treated for their heart disease than were men. Familial hypercholesterolemia is treatable if accurately diagnosed. The fact is, the only way you will know if you have high cholesterol is if you get tested. The current national recommendation is that all Americans undergo cholesterol testing between ages 9-11. If you have not yet been tested, especially if you have a strong family history of heart disease, it’s imprtant you get tested. Knowledge is power. If you are found to have familial hypercholesterolemia, get treated, and work to reduce all other risk factors. If you are overweight, try hard to get to a healthier weight. If you smoke, please quit. Both losing weight and quitting smoking can be difficult—but the sooner you do it, the healthier you will be. If you have high blood pressure, then exercise, salt restriction, weight loss, and medications when necessary are all important. Finally, if you have diabetes, work on weight loss through diet and exercise, and, if necessary, take prescribed medications.

I have been diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia, are there any other lab studies I should have?

Anyone who has familial hypercholesterolemia should also have a measurement for Lp(a), which is an inherited lipid found in the blood. Lp(a) is really the combination of an LDL particle and a clotting particle. People living with familial hypercholesterolemia who also have a high Lp(a) level are at even higher risk for early heart disease than are people who simply have a high LDL level. You can imagine that if Lp(a) contains an LDL particle it can block up the arteries; adding to that a clotting particle makes the risk even higher. Most heart attacks are caused when a cholesterol plaque inside a heart artery ruptures and subsequently a blood clot forms on top of the ruptured plaque. The combination of a ruptured plaque and a blood clot might completely prevent blood from flowing in the heart artery. If the blockage is not opened quickly, a heart attack will ensue. Lp(a) can be measured in two different ways. If your test is measured in mg/dL then a normal level is less than 30 mg/dL. Some labs measure in nmols/L, in which case the goal is a level < 74 nmol/L.

Can anything be done to lower Lp(a)?

Unfortunately, Lp(a) is quite difficult to treat. If your level is very elevated, it is unlikely to normalize with medication. Although there have not been any formal studies performed to assess whether lowering Lp(a) reduces cardiac risk, it makes sense to try to lower this lipoprotein. Of the currently available cholesterol lowering medications, only niacin significantly lowers Lp(a). Estrogen does have some Lp(a) lowering properties, but estrogen is not used in men. Lp(a) can also be lowered by LDL-apheresis. Although LDL-apheresis, a dialysis like procedure, is typically used to lower LDL cholesterol, sometimes the procedure is approved by insurance companies specifically to lower Lp(a). Some of the cholesterol lowering medications currently in development appear to significantly lower Lp(a).

How much can I lower my risk if I take cholesterol lowering medications?

Again, it is difficult to give you a precise percentage. In any given person, the overall degree of risk reduction will likely depend on the age at which cholesterol-lowering medications are started, and the number of other risk factors a person has for the development of heart disease, such as diabetes, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and high Lp(a). Some general statements can be made. In studies (many 5 or more years in length) performed in people with very high cholesterol, including many with familial hypercholesterolemia, statins have been shown to reduce the risk of a future heart attack by over 30%. In observational studies of familial hypercholesterolemia patients performed in Europe, it appears that long-term statin therapy is capable of lowering lifetime risk to that of the general population.

Note that studies show statins reduce chances of a future heart attack by 30%.

I know statins can lower my risk for a heart attack, but every time I take a statin my muscles and joints ache what can I do?

Thankfully, this is not a common problem, but if it is your situation it can be miserable.

First, it is important to make sure that a person does not have an underlying condition known to increase the risk for the development of statin myopathy, such as muscle aches when taking a statin. People with an under active thyroid are significantly more likely to experience statin myopathy than people with a normally functioning thyroid gland, so make sure your health care provider checks this. If you are found to have a hypothyroid problem, once this has been corrected, you may well be able to tolerate statins. Certain medications can lead to an increase blood level of statins. These include, among others, drugs used to treat HIV, certain antibiotics, and another type of cholesterol lowering medication known as gemfibrozil (Lopid®). If this is your situation, your health care provider should make a change. These medications really should not be used with statins. People with underlying liver or kidney disease and people who are frail may be more likely to develop statin myopathy. These people are typically treated with lower doses of statins. Some studies have found Asians with heart attacks in the family are more likely to develop statin myopathy and as such, are also often treated with lower doses of statins.

Finally, as with so many medical conditions, recently genetic factors have been found to play a role in determining who develops statin myopathy. When it comes to statins, they are not all created equal. One large study—The PRIMO Study—found that of the statins simvastatin (Zocor®) was most likely to cause muscle aches and fluvastatin (Lescol®) was least likely. Unfortunately, Lescol® is the least potent statin. That said, other more potent statins including atrovastatin (Lipitor®) and rosuvastatin (Crestor®) are less likely than simvastatin to cause aches. In general, an approach to statin intolerance is to try different statins, one at a time. If a statin causes pain, speak to your doctor about stopping that particular statin medication. Once you feel better you can try a different statin, or a lower dose of the same statin. In some cases, every other day, or even every 3rd or 4th day dosing is effective. If a person with familial hypercholesterolemia can only tolerate low dose, or intermittent statin dosing, he/she will likely need to tighten his/her diet, and almost certainly will require additional medications. Other choices which may be additive to statins include bile acid sequestrants (Welchol®, Questran®, Colestid®), cholesterol absorption inhibitors (Zetia®), or niacin (Niaspan®). Other options for further LDL reduction include LDL apheresis and participation in clinical trials.

My doctor has asked me to begin LDL-apheresis. Is this likely to lower my risk of a heart attack?

LDL-apheresis is a dialysis-like procedure, performed every week in people with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and every other week in persons with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. A person has homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia if he/she has inherited 2 genes for familial hypercholesterolemia, one from each parent, and a person with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia has inherited one gene for familial hypercholesterolemia. Apheresis literally means “to take out.” In the case of LDL-apheresis, LDL cholesterol is physically removed from the blood. Blood is removed from one arm, specially treated to remove the LDL cholesterol, then returned into the other arm. The procedure, which typically takes between 2-4 hours, can lower LDL by as much as 80% and also dramatically lowers Lp(a). Unfortunately, over a short period of time a person’s level rebounds – this is why it needs to repeated frequently. Although for obvious reasons (scientists will always know who is getting the procedure and who is not), it is impossible to conduct placebo-controlled trials to assess the effectiveness of LDL-apheresis. Several studies have compared the outcomes of patients receiving medications along with LDL-apheresis to those receiving medications without LDL-apheresis. It appears that long term use of LDL-apheresis may reduce cardiac risk anywhere from 44 – 72% above and beyond the use of medications alone. Finally, if your doctor has recommended LDL-apheresis it is likely that your LDL [or Lp(a)] remains very high despite maximally tolerated cholesterol lowering medications.

I have familial hypercholesterolemia. How likely is it that my child will also have familial hypercholesterolemia?

If you have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, as long as your partner doesn’t also have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, your child has a 50 % chance of having familial hypercholesterolemia. In exactly the same way that you inherited a gene for LDL cholesterol removal from each of your parents, your child has inherited one gene for LDL cholesterol removal from you and one from your partner, which reduces the risk of heart attacks in family.

Familial hypercholesterolemia life expectancy

The risk of complications of hypercholesterolaemia can be significantly reduced by therapies that lower serum cholesterol levels. Studies show statins reduce chances of a future heart attack by 30%.

Lowering cholesterol by 1% reduces the risk of coronary artery disease by 2%.

The treatment of other modifiable risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes will further decreases the risk of complications of hypercholesterolaemia.

Maintaining an appropriate weight, eating a low fat diet and exercising can also have a significant impact on cholesterol levels and improve long-term outcomes.

Familial hypercholesterolemia symptoms

Depending on the severity or form of familial hypercholesterolemia you have (Heterozygous vs. Homozygous), symptoms can start appearing in childhood or they might not appear until much later in life. Because familial hypercholesterolemia is caused by a defective gene, it is present in the body from birth. However, this is not necessarily obvious. In fact, this is doctors like to call it the “invisible” disease. Many people with familial hypercholesterolemia just think they have high cholesterol that can be lowered with the right food until, one day, they are only 38 years old and they have a heart attack. Symptoms are not necessarily present.

Signs of Familial hypercholesterolemia are different in every patient and they may or may not include the following:

• Family history of early heart disease or heart attacks (before age 55 in men and before age 65 in women)
• High LDL-cholesterol (above 190 mg/dL in adults and above 160 mg/dL in children)
• Chest pain or angina
• Bumps or lumps on the skin (these are deposits of excess fat called xanthomas)

But remember, you don’t have to have visible symptoms to have Familial hypercholesterolemia. Here’s a formula to help you remember the two main signs of Familial hypercholesterolemia:

Xanthomas are collections of cholesterol under the skin or tendons. They are yellow bumps that can be small and hard to see. These are often found in the folds of skin and buttocks in children. Also, there can be xanthomas on the tendons at the ankles and hands. Children often have xanthomas without any signs of heart problems in early childhood.

Tendon xanthoma occurs in three fourth of middle-aged patients and is largely discovered in the Achilles tendon. It may also occur in the extensor area of the dorsum of the hand, heel or the knee. Since xanthomas (patches of yellowish cholesterol buildup) may be manifested only to the extent of thickening of a tendon, familial hypercholesterolemia patients may be overlooked by clinicians without due concern. Xanthelasma or early arcus cornealis may also be observed.

Xanthomas may worsen with age as a result of extremely high cholesterol levels. Xanthomas can occur around the eyelids and within the tendons of the elbows, hands, knees, and feet.

From figure 2 below:

A) Lateral borders of thickened Achilles’ tendons are shown with arrows.

B) Tendinous xanthomas can also occur in the extensor tendons of the hands (shown), feet, elbows and knees.

C) Xanthelasmas are cholesterol deposits in the eyelids.

D) Arcus cornealis (corneal arcus) is a greyish-white ring of cholesterol infiltration around the corneal rim (arrow). A corneal arcus at a young age can mean that the child has homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Figure 2. Familial hypercholesterolemia – Physical signs of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, as a result of cholesterol deposition within macrophages in specific sites. 

Heart and blood vessel disease

A heart murmur may be the result of narrowing of the opening of the aortic valve by cholesterol buildup. A child with aortic valve disease and high LDL-C may have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Cholesterol plaque builds up in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart, the carotids taking blood to the brain, the arteries to the kidneys, and other arteries. Blockage of the flow of blood to the heart may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or irregular heartbeats. Special tests of the heart such as a EKG (electrocardiogram), echocardiogram, CT angiogram or cardiac catheterization are recommended to check the aortic valve and coronary arteries at diagnosis and at least every 5 years.

Familial hypercholesterolemia diagnosis

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia can be diagnosed through genetic testing (DNA testing) or a clinical diagnosis utilizing one of three well-accepted sets of criteria — Simon Broome (UK), Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (Netherlands), or MEDPED (US).

DNA testing confirms the diagnosis and is considered the “gold standard”, but is not always necessary or feasible. DNA testing should definitely be considered when it’s not clear whether an individual is affected or not, and is very helpful for testing family members. Recent studies also suggest that individual risks for coronary artery disease vary among the affected gene and type of DNA variation (substitution vs. partial deletion of a gene, etc.).

Unfortunately, genetic testing is not commonly used in some countries including the U.S. Also, not everyone with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia has the same signs and symptoms. If you have any of the above signs or symptoms, please talk to your doctor.

Once an individual is diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia (either with or without the use of DNA testing) a process called “cascade screening”, “cascade testing” or “family screening” (testing of close relatives, in a step-wise fashion) is recommended to identify those with familial hypercholesterolemia before symptoms appear, so that early and intensive treatment can be initiated and disease and death prevented. If a pathogenic variant is identified, risk in the patient’s first degree relatives (parent, sibling, child) and when appropriate, more distant relatives, can be assessed via DNA testing by tracing the altered gene through the family. If DNA testing is not performed, another version of cascade screening can be implemented using cholesterol testing. Cascade screening by either means has been shown to be effective in finding patients with familial hypercholesterolemia who were not being appropriately treated. A genetic counselor can help a family through this process.

Cascade screening has been shown in numerous studies to be cost-effective and has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK. The Office of Public Health Genomics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers cascade screening of relatives of those with FH a “Tier 1 application” which means that there is good evidence that implementation will prevent disease and save lives.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is easily identified in infants and young children by the presence of planar xanthomas, corneal arcus, and exceedingly high total and LDL-C; LDL-C is usually greater than 400 mg/dL. The parents are “obligate heterozygotes” who are considered to have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia until proven otherwise.

Clinical Testing and Workup

Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis

To establish the extent of disease and needs of an individual diagnosed with FH, the following evaluations are recommended in adults and children:

• Pre-treatment lipid values
• Lipoprotein(a) levels when possible as lipoprotein(a) is an additional risk factor for coronary heart disease
• Exclusion of concurrent illnesses (kidney disease, acute myocardial infarction, infection) that can affect lipid values
• Lipid panel including total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides
• Consultation with a lipid specialist or clinician with expertise in familial hypercholesterolemia
• Medical genetics or a genetic counseling consultation

In children, noninvasive imaging modalities (e.g., measurement of carotid intima-media thickness) are recommended in some guidelines to help inform treatment decisions.

Level of LDL-C

This is extremely important. The higher the LDL-C, the more likely it is that a person has homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (LDL-C > 500 mg/dL).

Family History

This is key. If both parents have very high LDL-C (>190 mg/dL) and/or history of heart disease before age 55-65, this may suggest that they both have familial hypercholesterolemia and can each pass a mutated gene to their children. When each parent has heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, by chance, 1 of 4 children will have a normal cholesterol level, 2 of 4 children will have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia and 1 of 4 children will have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Prenatal DNA testing may be available if the mutations are identified in the parents. Download our family tree to track your family history.

Response to cholesterol-lowering medications

If a person is living a healthy lifestyle and taking cholesterol-lowering medications like statins, and/or cholesterol absorption inhibitors, and/or bile acid sequestrates and still has high cholesterol level (> 300 mg/dL), they may have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Diagnostic Criteria for Familial Hypercholesterolemia

There are currently three accepted resources for familial hypercholesterolemia diagnosis:

1. The Simon Broome criteria,
2. The MEDPED Criteria, and
3. The Familial Hypercholesterolemia Dutch Lipid Clinic Criteria.

Table 1. Simon Broome Diagnostic Criteria For Familial Hypercholesterolemia ¹⁰⁾

Table 2. Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Diagnostic Criteria For Familial Hypercholesterolemia ¹¹⁾

Note: *Premature = < 55 years in men; < 60 years in women

LDL-C = low density lipoprotein cholesterol; FH, familial hypercholesterolemia.
LDLR = low density lipoprotein receptor
Apo B = apolipoprotein B
PCSK9 = Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9

Table 3. MEDPED Diagnostic Criteria For Familial Hypercholesterolemia ¹²⁾

FH = familial hypercholesterolemia

Note: *The total cholesterol cutpoints for familial hypercholesterolemia is dependent upon the confirmed cases of familial hypercholesterolemia in the family. If familial hypercholesterolemia is not diagnosed in the family, then the cutpoint for diagnosis is as per “general population.”

Familial hypercholesterolemia treatment

The treatments for Hofamilial hypercholesterolemia can be quite complex and anyone with this disease is advised to be under the care of a lipid specialist. Familial hypercholesterolemia management can include a combination approach – statins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, and bile acid sequestrants. Often, Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia patients will require even more intensive therapy to bring their LDL cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”) levels down.

Lifestyle and dietary changes

Lifestyle changes, such as exercising and eating a healthy low-fat diet, are the first line of defense against high cholesterol. Specific recommendations include:

• Reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet to less than 6-10 percent of your daily calories. The most harmful types of fat are saturated fat and trans fat, which are found in foods from animal sources, such as meat and dairy products, as well as packed snacks, fast food, and baked goods (biscuits, cakes, etc). As a rule of thumb, avoid too much processed foods. Try to eat fresh by cooking homemade healthy meals from scratch. LESS! whole milk, butter, egg yolks, snacks (chips), deep-fried fast food (fries, deep-fried chicken), processed meat (sausage, pâté), liver, organ meats, frozen foods (waffles, pies, pizzas, breaded fish). BEWARE OF HIDDEN TRANS FATS (“partially hydrogenated…”)
• Consuming 25 to 35 grams of soluble fiber a day.  As a rule of thumb, think plants (not animals): fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans. MORE! barley, oatmeal, sunflower seeds, almonds, soy, tofu, edamame, chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, lentils, Brussels sprouts, carrots, apples, bananas, pears, oranges, grapefruit, prunes, blackberries.
• Add plant sterols and plant stanols to your diet. They actively reduce LDL-cholesterol and can be found in certain food supplements and substitutes (look for margarine or cheese that states “With added plant sterols/stanols”). An enhanced daily consumption of 2000 to 2500 mg of plant sterols/stanols per day may lower LDL-cholesterol by up to 15%!
• Increasing physical activity.
• Maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Not smoking. And quit smoking if you smoke.

With familial hypercholesterolemia, your doctor likely will also recommend that you take medication to help lower your LDL “bad” cholesterol levels. The specific medication or medications depend on various factors, including your risk factors, your age, your current health and possible side effects.

Table 4. Good and bad fats

Medications

Common medication choices include:

• Statins. Statins — among the most commonly prescribed medications for lowering cholesterol — block a substance your liver needs to make cholesterol. This causes your liver to remove cholesterol from your blood. Statins may also help your body reabsorb cholesterol from built-up deposits on your artery walls, potentially reversing coronary artery disease. Choices include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev,), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor). Not everyone can take statins especially women who are trying to conceive, pregnant, or nursing. Talk to you doctor about other therapy options.
• Bile-acid-binding resins. Your liver uses cholesterol to make bile acids, a substance needed for digestion. The medications cholestyramine (Prevalite), colesevelam (Welchol) and colestipol (Colestid) lower cholesterol indirectly by binding to bile acids. This prompts your liver to use excess cholesterol to make more bile acids, which reduces the level of cholesterol in your blood.
• Cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Your small intestine absorbs the cholesterol from your diet and releases it into your bloodstream. The drug ezetimibe (Zetia) helps reduce blood cholesterol by limiting the absorption of dietary cholesterol. Zetia can be used in combination with any of the statin drugs.
• Combination cholesterol absorption inhibitor and statin. The combination drug ezetimibe-simvastatin (Vytorin) decreases both absorption of dietary cholesterol in your small intestine and production of cholesterol in your liver. It’s unknown whether Vytorin is more effective in reducing heart disease risk than taking simvastatin by itself.
• Injectable medications. A new class of drugs can help the liver absorb more LDL cholesterol — which lowers the amount of cholesterol circulating in your blood. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha) for people who have a genetic condition that causes very high levels of LDL. These drugs may also be used for people who have had heart attacks or strokes and need additional lowering of their LDL levels. These injectable drugs are administered at home one or two times a month.
• PCSK9 Inhibitor – antibodies that bind the PCSK9 enzyme. Normally, LDL is recycled in the liver by binding to receptors that move it through the cell. The PCSK9 enzyme weakens this process by connecting to and disabling the receptors, therefore increasing LDL in the liver. When the PCSK9 inhibitor is introduced, it binds to the enzyme stopping it from attaching to the receptors and getting in the way of the recycling process.
• Lomitapide (marketed as Juxtapid in the U.S.) – Lomitapide works by partially blocking a protein responsible for fatty substances forming in the gut and liver. By blocking this protein, lomitapide helps reduce how much fat is absorbed and lowers the level of LDL cholesterol in your blood. If you take lomitapide you should consume less than 20 per cent of your calories from fat as this has been shown to help reduce unwanted gastrointestinal (stomach related) side effects. This is lower than normally recommended for a heart healthy diet, but advice and support is available to help you make this change. Lomitapide is approved as an adjunct to a low-fat diet and other lipid lowering treatments. It is an oral capsule.
• Mipomersen (marketed as Kynamro in the U.S.) -Mipomersen is an antisense drug that leads to the decline of apoB RNA in the liver (apoB is necessary for the formation of LDL particles). It is administered as a weekly injection.

Medications for high triglycerides

If you also have high triglycerides, your doctor may prescribe:

• Fibrates. The medications fenofibrate (Tricor) and gemfibrozil (Lopid) decrease triglycerides by reducing your liver’s production of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and by speeding up the removal of triglycerides from your blood. VLDL cholesterol contains mostly triglycerides.
• Niacin. Niacin (Niaspan) decreases triglycerides by limiting your liver’s ability to produce LDL and VLDL cholesterol. But niacin doesn’t usually provide any additional benefit than using statins alone. Niacin has also been linked to liver damage and stroke, so most doctors now recommend it only for people who can’t take statins.
• Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help lower your triglycerides. They are available by prescription or over-the-counter. If you choose to take over-the-counter supplements, get your doctor’s OK first. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements could affect other medications you’re taking. Fish is a great source of healthy omega-3 fats. The American Heart Association recommends eating 3.5 ounces of fish (especially oily, omega-3 rich fish) at least twice a week. Note: Tilefish, shark, swordfish, and king mackerel have high mercury content and should be eaten only occasionally.

Tolerance varies

Tolerance of medications varies from person to person. The reported side effects are muscle pains, stomach pain, constipation, nausea and diarrhea. If you decide to take cholesterol-lowering medication, your doctor may recommend liver function tests to monitor the medication’s effect on your liver.

LDL Apheresis

LDL apheresis (also called lipoprotein apheresis) can be performed on homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia patients as well as more serious heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia patients. This procedure involves blood cleansing every other week (or sometimes weekly) with a special machine that looks like a dialysis machine. The procedure takes between one and a half to three hours, and typically drops LDL levels by 70%. Unfortunately, LDL rises over time and, for this reason, repeat treatments are necessary. About 60 lipoprotein apheresis centers exist in the US.

Children or Adults with Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

Early initiation of therapy and monitoring using CT coronary angiography and other imaging are recommended; these patients often require additional treatment strategies, as pharmacological treatment and lifestyle changes may not be sufficient. Statins are usually started as soon as the diagnosis is made (though may not be effective as explained above). Two new drugs (lomitapide and mipomersen) have now been FDA-approved for the treatment of adults with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and should be considered for these patients, especially if LDL-C level cannot be controlled using other drugs. A PCSK9 inhibitor (evolocumab) was also approved for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Additional options include LDL apheresis or liver transplantation.

LDL Apheresis

Using a process similar to kidney dialysis, blood is withdrawn from a vein via a catheter and processed to remove LDL particles. Normal blood products are returned via another catheter. LDL-C levels will decrease approximately 50% but will rise between apheresis sessions, so they are necessary approximately weekly or every other week. The procedure is effective and well tolerated though time-consuming and only available in 50-60 sites in the US.

Liver transplantation

Liver transplant is extraordinarily rare and may become even less common with the new medications available. As the donor liver will have normal LDL receptors, the LDL cholesterol quickly normalizes after the procedure, but the risks of any organ transplant are significant and include complications from major surgery and the effects of lifelong suppression of the immune system. Donor organs are often not available. Patients with familial pathogenic APOB or PCSK9 gene variants have normal LDL receptors, so liver transplantation is not an option for them.

Various imaging modalities such as echocardiograms, CT angiograms and cardiac catheterization may be recommended to monitor individuals with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Children and cholesterol treatment

Diet and exercise are the best initial treatment for children age 2 and older who have high cholesterol, or who are obese. Children age 10 and older might be prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as statins, if they have extremely high cholesterol levels.

Current recommendations from both the National Lipid Association and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend beginning cholesterol lowering medications at around the age of 8 for children with familial hypercholesterolemia. Statins are the drugs of first choice. By the age of 8, a child should be able to swallow pills. At least one drug company has experimented with a chewable flavored statin, but this is not yet on the market.

Six statins are FDA-approved for children 10 years of age and older (age 8 years and older for pravastatin):

• rosuvastatin (Crestor®),
• atorvastatin (Lipitor®),
• simvastatin (Zocor®),
• pravastatin (Pravachol®),
• lovastatin (Mevacor®),
• fluvastatin (Lescol®)

Depending on which statin is used and at what dose, reductions in LDL of 50% or more can be achieved with the two most potent statins rosuvastatin (Crestor®), atorvastatin (Lipitor®)]. And thankfully, Lipitor® has recently become available as a generic.

National Lipid Association and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines: Children with familial hypercholesterolemia begin medications around 8 years of age

If your child fails to achieve an LDL of < 130 mg/dL or an LDL reduction from baseline of at least a 50%, consideration should be given to adding an additional medication. In this situation your child’s health care provider might suggest a bile acid sequestrant such as [colesevelam (Welchol®), cholestyramine (Questran®), or colestipol (Colestid®). These medications work in the intestines and are not absorbed into the blood stream. Although these medications can lower cholesterol by 10-20% and appear to be very safe, only one, colesevelam (Welchol®), has been approved for use in the pediatric population. Unfortunately, many children complain of gas while on a bile acid sequestrant.

Finally, ezetimibe (Zetia®) is a medication that inhibits the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines. It can lower the LDL by about 20% and has been studied in children and found to be well tolerated. It is now approved by the FDA for use in children over the age of 10. If your child is not able to achieve his/her goal cholesterol with a single cholesterol lowering medication, it is often appropriate to ask for a referral to a cholesterol (lipid) specialist. Many parents see a cholesterol specialist for the initiation of cholesterol-lowering medications but follow-up with their pediatrician, family doctor or nurse practitioner once their child’s levels are under control.

Once my child begins medication, how often should he/she be seen?

Some doctors typically see a child back 6 weeks after they start a medication. Subsequent visits might occur every 3 to 6 months. To assess liver function, blood should be drawn prior to starting therapy. The need for follow-up liver function tests is generally determined by your child’s health care provider. Repeat cholesterol profiles are usually drawn at least twice a year.

What are some of the side effects of cholesterol lowering medications?

I have already noted that the bile acid sequestrants can cause gas. The statins are typically very well tolerated but in some cases they can cause muscle and joint aches and can rarely cause liver function and muscle function abnormalities. Thankfully, in almost all situations, these side effects can be reversed with either stopping the drug or reducing the dose. And although Zetia® tends also to be very well tolerated, it too can occasionally cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. When Zetia is taken in conjunction with a statin, rare cases of muscle and liver function abnormalities have occurred.

After my child’s cholesterol level normalizes, can he/she come off the medication?

Unfortunately, because familial hypercholesterolemia is caused by a defective gene, there is currently no cure. Medications can help normalize the cholesterol in a person with familial hypercholesterolemia but if they are discontinued, the genetic disorder is again revealed. Cholesterol-lowering medications only work while you are taking them.

Cholesterol-lowering medications only work while you are taking them.

My teen has an awful diet. What should I do?

This is a very common situation that are encountered countless times in clinical practice. Teens with familial hypercholesterolemia are like any other teen, but obviously the stakes are higher for children with familial hypercholesterolemia. It is very frustrating to see your son or daughter’s eating habits deteriorate. Best advice is to set a good example; make the foods you serve at home as healthy as possible.

My child hates to take his/her medications. What can I do?

Stick with it. The medications are crucial – there is strong evidence that statins reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and total mortality. And heart disease is what kills young adults with familial hypercholesterolemia. Your child is not at risk of a heart attack right now (unless your child has homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia), but he/she is at risk in the future. Just when people with familial hypercholesterolemia should be enjoying their own children (and you, your grandchildren), a heart attack can strike – sometimes these heart attacks can be fatal. You have to stress the importance of getting your child into the habit of taking his/her medicines. Make it a family affair – take your medications together.