FH is caused by a faulty gene that is passed from parents to children. It can come from one or both parents. FH can be severe if both parents have the gene.

The faulty gene makes it hard for the liver to remove LDL from the blood.

The Liver and Other Organs

Risk Factors

The parent will not always pass the faulty gene to their child. However, if one parent has the gene defect, it raises the child's risk of FH. If both parents have the gene defect, the child's risk of FH is even higher.

Symptoms

FH itself does not cause symptoms. However, high levels of LDL can lead to:

Thick and painful tendons
Xanthomas—fatty deposits under the skin
Xanthelasmas—fatty deposits on the eyelids
Eye problems—due to fatty deposits on the cornea

FH raises the risk of heart and blood vessel disease at a young age. This can lead to:

Atherosclerosis
Angina
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Heart attack
Stroke
Early death

Diagnosis

A physical exam and blood tests will be done. To make a diagnosis, the doctor will look for:

Fatty deposits in skin, tendons, or eyes
High cholesterol, especially in young person
Family history of high cholesterol
Genetic testing

Other tests may be done to rule out other conditions.

Treatment

FH will need lifelong treatment. The goal of treatment is to:

Lower LDL levels
Lower the risk of problems such as heart disease or stroke

Treatment options include:

Lifestyle Changes

To help lower cholesterol levels, the doctor may advise:

A diet that is
- Low in saturated fats and cholesterol
- High in grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes
- Low in alcohol
Regular physical activity
Not smoking
Reaching and keeping a healthy weight

Medicine

Diet and exercise alone may not be enough. Medicines may be given to lower LDL cholesterol. Options may be:

Statins
Alirocumab or evolocumab

Other Treatments

Severe forms of FH may need:

Apheresis—a machine that pulls LDL out of the blood
Liver transplant —for those not helped with medicine

Prevention

FH cannot be prevented.

RESOURCES:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

NORD—National Organization for Rare Disorders
https://rarediseases.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Dietitians of Canada
https://www.dietitians.ca

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://www.heartandstroke.ca

References:

Familial hypercholesterolemia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/familial-hypercholesterolemia. Accessed January 20, 2021.

Familial hypercholesterolemia. National Organization of Rare Disorders website. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/familial-hypercholesterolemia. Accessed January 20, 2021.

Familial hypercholesterolemia. Genetics Home Reference——US National Library of Medicine website. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/familial-hypercholesterolemia. Accessed January 20, 2021.

Soran H, Adam S. Hypercholesterolaemia – practical information for non-specialists. Arch Med Sci. 2018 Jan; 14(1): 1–21.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 1/19/2021

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