Last reviewed: 21 Apr 2022
Last updated: 03 Oct 2018
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- lipaemia retinalis
- eruptive xanthoma
More key diagnostic factors
Other diagnostic factors
- obesity/overweight
- diabetes
- coronary artery disease
- angina/claudication
- abdominal pain and other features of pancreatitis
Other diagnostic factors
Risk factors
- family history of hyperlipidaemia
- family history of diabetes
- overweight/obese patients
- high-saturated-fat diet
- high-carbohydrate diet
- insulin resistance
- liver disease
- hypothyroidism
- renal disease
- excessive alcohol consumption
- HIV infection
- cystic fibrosis
- medications
- Cushing's syndrome
- acute spinal cord injury
- inflammatory/immune disorders
- anorexia nervosa
- organ transplant
More risk factors
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- fasting triglycerides
More 1st investigations to order
Investigations to consider
- thyroid-stimulating hormone
- fasting plasma glucose
- urea, creatinine
- serum albumin
- liver function tests
- serum protein electrophoresis
- computed tomography abdomen
More investigations to consider
Treatment algorithm
ACUTE
chylomicronaemia
ONGOING
with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ≤75 years
with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease >75 years
without clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥4.92 mmol/L (≥190 mg/dL)
without clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: 40-75 years without diabetes mellitus (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 1.81-4.87 mmol/L [70-189 mg/dL])
without clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: 40-75 years with diabetes mellitus (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 1.81-4.87 mmol/L [70-189 mg/dL])
triglycerides ≥5.7 mmol/L (≥500 mg/dL)
Contributors
Authors
David Alexander Leaf, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Playa Vista Medical Center
Los Angeles
CA
Disclosures
DAL is an author of several references cited in this monograph.
Peer reviewers
Mahi Lakshmi Ashwath, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Cardiology
Heart and Vascular Center
Metro Health Medical Center
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland
OH
Disclosures
MLA declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Diabetes
- Liver disease
- Hypothyroidism
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Familial hypercholesterolaemia: identification and management
- Risk estimation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease
More GuidelinesPatient leaflets
High cholesterol
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