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Familial hypertriglyceridemia

Definition:
Familial hypertriglyceridemia is a common inherited disorder in which the concentration of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) is elevated in the plasma. This leads to increased risk of heart disease, obesity, and pancreatitis.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

This disorder is caused by a gene mutation which is passed on in an autosomal dominant fashion. This means that if you get the gene from just one of your parents -- you will have the condition. The gene mutation for familial hypertriglyceridemia causes a mild to moderate elevation of triglycerides in the blood, though how exactly it does so is unknown.

The condition does not usually manifest itself until puberty or early adulthood. Obesity, hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels), and high levels of insulin are frequently associated with this condition.

Familial hypertriglyceridemia occurs in about 1 in 300 individuals in the United States. Risk factors are a family history of hypertriglyceridemia or a family history of heart disease before the age of 50.



Review Date: 6/5/2002
Reviewed By: Donna R. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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