Familial hypercholesterolaemia: pilot study to identify children at risk.

Abstract

70-5% of samples tested. Forty two (21%) of patients tested had a borderline cholesterol (5.2-5.9 mmol/l) but 50% of these fell within the normal range when fasting capillary samples were analysed. Children with significant hypercholesterolaemia on random testing (concentrations of >5.9 mmol/) (8.5%) also had fasting venous blood assayed for high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and tri-glyceride in the laboratory. Results indicated that 6*5% of patients screened were at high risk of cardiovascular disease (ratio of total: HDL cholesterol of >4.5), and 1% had a moderately increased risk (ratio 3-5-4.5). Conclusions-Children with familial hypercholesterolaemia can be identified from a selected "high risk" population by measuring random capillary cholesterol concentration.

Screening for hypercholesterolaemia versus case finding for familial hypercholesterolaemia: a systematic review and cost-effectiveness analysis.

“…A pilot study in the UK evaluated a method of identifying FH children in one geographic location. 68 The authors calculated that only ten of the estimated 300 children with FH in the area had been identified. High-risk patients were defined as men aged under 50 years and women aged below 55 years who had an MI or angina.…”

Wives of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction are at an Increased Risk of Developing Coronary Artery Disease

“…The observation that wives of MI patients may be at a higher risk of developing CAD in the future cannot be explained through genetic similarities with their husbands, as in the cases of the relatives of MI patients [16][17][18]. Therefore, attention should be focused to the lifestyle, especially smoking (active and/or passive), dietary habits (total fat intake, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, antioxidants and alcohol intake, etc.…”

“…A recent study suggested that if a MI patient has low HDL-C and high TG levels, then a lipid profile should be recommended to their first-degree relatives [16]. In another study, parameters were analysed in 200 children who were first-or second-degree relatives of patients with CAD [17]. The researchers reached the conclusion that children with familial hypercholesterolaemia can be indicated through the measurement of TC in the capillaries.…”