BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuFamilial dysbetalipoproteinemiaType III hyperlipoproteinemia; Deficient or defective apolipoprotein EFamilial dysbetalipoproteinemia is a disorder passed down through families. It causes high amounts of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Causes A genetic defect causes this condition. The defect results in the buildup of large lipoprotein particles that contain both cholesterol and a type of fat called triglycerides. The disease is linked to defects in the gene for apolipoprotein E.Hypothyroidism, obesity, or diabetes can make the condition worse. Risk factors for familial dysbetalipoproteinemia include a family history of the disorder or coronary artery disease.HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ObesityOverweight and obesity mean having a weight than is higher than what is healthy for a given height. A person may be overweight from extra muscle, bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms may not be seen until age 20 or older.Yellow deposits of fatty material in the skin called xanthomas may appear on the eyelids, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or on the tendons of the ankles, knees and elbows.xanthomasXanthoma is a skin condition in which certain fats build up under the surface of the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other symptoms may include:Chest pain (angina) or other signs of coronary artery disease may be present at a young age Cramping of one or both calves when walking Sores on the toes that do not heal Sudden stroke-like symptoms such as trouble speaking, drooping on one side of the face, weakness of an arm or leg, and loss of balance Exams and Tests Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition include:Genetic testing for apolipoprotein E (apoE) Lipid panel blood test Triglyceride level Triglyceride levelThe triglyceride level is a blood test to measure the amount of triglycerides in your blood. Triglycerides are a type of fat. Your body makes some t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) testVery low density lipoprotein (VLDL) tesVLDL stands for very low density lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are made up of cholesterol, triglycerides, and proteins. They move cholesterol, triglyce...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goal of treatment is to control conditions such as obesity, hypothyroidism, and diabetes.Making diet changes to reduce calories, saturated fats, and cholesterol may help lower blood cholesterol.Making diet changesA healthy diet is an important factor in reducing your risk for heart disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If cholesterol and triglyceride levels are still high after you have made diet changes, your health care provider may have you take medicines as well. Medicines to lower blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels include:Bile acid-sequestering resins. Fibrates (gemfibrozil, fenofibrate). Nicotinic acid. Statins. PCSK9 inhibitors, such as alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha). These represent a newer class of drugs to treat cholesterol. Outlook (Prognosis) People with this condition have a significantly increased risk for coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease.Coronary artery diseaseStable angina is chest pain or discomfort that most often occurs with activity or emotional stress. Angina is due to poor blood flow through the blo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Peripheral vascularPeripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition of the blood vessels that supply the legs and feet. It occurs due to narrowing of the arteries in the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article With treatment, most people are able to greatly reduce their levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Possible Complications Complications may include:Heart attack Stroke Peripheral vascular disease Intermittent claudication Gangrene of the lower extremities When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have been diagnosed with this disorder and: New symptoms develop. Symptoms do not improve with treatment. Symptoms get worse. Prevention Screening the family members of people with this condition may lead to early detection and treatment.Getting treated early and limiting other risk factors such as smoking can help prevent early heart attacks, strokes, and blocked blood vessels.Open ReferencesReferencesGenest J, Mora S, Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 27.Robinson JG. Disorders of lipid metabolism. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 195.AllVideoImagesTogCoronary artery disease - illustration The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle itself. Blood supply through these arteries is critical for the heart. Coronary artery disease usually results from the build-up of fatty material and plaque, a condition called atherosclerosis. As the coronary arteries narrow, the flow of blood to the heart can slow or stop, causing chest pain (stable angina), shortness of breath, heart attack, or other symptoms.Coronary artery diseaseillustrationCoronary artery disease - illustration The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle itself. Blood supply through these arteries is critical for the heart. Coronary artery disease usually results from the build-up of fatty material and plaque, a condition called atherosclerosis. As the coronary arteries narrow, the flow of blood to the heart can slow or stop, causing chest pain (stable angina), shortness of breath, heart attack, or other symptoms.Coronary artery diseaseillustrationRelated Information Atherosclerosis(Condition)Stable angina(Condition)Peripheral artery disease - legs(Condition)Hypothyroidism(Condition)Overweight(Symptoms)Diabetes(Condition)Heart attack(Condition)Cholesterol - InDepth(In-Depth)Coronary artery disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 5/8/2022 Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Familial dysbetalipoproteinemiaType III hyperlipoproteinemia; Deficient or defective apolipoprotein EFamilial dysbetalipoproteinemia is a disorder passed down through families. It causes high amounts of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Causes A genetic defect causes this condition. The defect results in the buildup of large lipoprotein particles that contain both cholesterol and a type of fat called triglycerides. The disease is linked to defects in the gene for apolipoprotein E.Hypothyroidism, obesity, or diabetes can make the condition worse. Risk factors for familial dysbetalipoproteinemia include a family history of the disorder or coronary artery disease.HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ObesityOverweight and obesity mean having a weight than is higher than what is healthy for a given height. A person may be overweight from extra muscle, bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms may not be seen until age 20 or older.Yellow deposits of fatty material in the skin called xanthomas may appear on the eyelids, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or on the tendons of the ankles, knees and elbows.xanthomasXanthoma is a skin condition in which certain fats build up under the surface of the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other symptoms may include:Chest pain (angina) or other signs of coronary artery disease may be present at a young age Cramping of one or both calves when walking Sores on the toes that do not heal Sudden stroke-like symptoms such as trouble speaking, drooping on one side of the face, weakness of an arm or leg, and loss of balance Exams and Tests Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition include:Genetic testing for apolipoprotein E (apoE) Lipid panel blood test Triglyceride level Triglyceride levelThe triglyceride level is a blood test to measure the amount of triglycerides in your blood. Triglycerides are a type of fat. Your body makes some t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) testVery low density lipoprotein (VLDL) tesVLDL stands for very low density lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are made up of cholesterol, triglycerides, and proteins. They move cholesterol, triglyce...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goal of treatment is to control conditions such as obesity, hypothyroidism, and diabetes.Making diet changes to reduce calories, saturated fats, and cholesterol may help lower blood cholesterol.Making diet changesA healthy diet is an important factor in reducing your risk for heart disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If cholesterol and triglyceride levels are still high after you have made diet changes, your health care provider may have you take medicines as well. Medicines to lower blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels include:Bile acid-sequestering resins. Fibrates (gemfibrozil, fenofibrate). Nicotinic acid. Statins. PCSK9 inhibitors, such as alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha). These represent a newer class of drugs to treat cholesterol. Outlook (Prognosis) People with this condition have a significantly increased risk for coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease.Coronary artery diseaseStable angina is chest pain or discomfort that most often occurs with activity or emotional stress. Angina is due to poor blood flow through the blo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Peripheral vascularPeripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition of the blood vessels that supply the legs and feet. It occurs due to narrowing of the arteries in the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article With treatment, most people are able to greatly reduce their levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Possible Complications Complications may include:Heart attack Stroke Peripheral vascular disease Intermittent claudication Gangrene of the lower extremities When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have been diagnosed with this disorder and: New symptoms develop. Symptoms do not improve with treatment. Symptoms get worse. Prevention Screening the family members of people with this condition may lead to early detection and treatment.Getting treated early and limiting other risk factors such as smoking can help prevent early heart attacks, strokes, and blocked blood vessels.Open ReferencesReferencesGenest J, Mora S, Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 27.Robinson JG. Disorders of lipid metabolism. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 195.