Familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia: clinical and cardiovascular features in 18 patients

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HFH) is a very rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by accelerated severe atherosclerosis. We examined 18 patients from 9 families with HFH. The age range was 6-30 years (mean = 16 years). Male to female ratio was equal. All patients had huge, multiple tuberous xanthomas on the skin and tendons. Mean +/- standard deviation of plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol levels were 608 +/- 89, 122 +/- 39, 550 +/- 88, and 26 +/- 8 mg/dl, respectively. Five patients (28%) had angina pectoris, two sustained a myocardial infarction, and one died at the age of 15 years. Two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated supravalvular aortic stenosis in 3 of the 13 patients (23%). Coronary arteriography performed in 11 patients demonstrated significant obstruction in 6 patients, 2 each with single-, double-, and triple-vessel disease. Left main stenosis was present in 3 patients (27%). Supravalvular aortic narrowing was demonstrated in 6 patients (54%) and was associated with a gradient in 2 (25 and 35 mmHg, respectively). Segmental contraction abnormalities were detected in 2 of the 11 patients (18%). It is concluded that coronary artery disease is prevalent in patients with HFH and, based on the data presented, we recommend the performance of noninvasive technique, coronary arteriography and supravalvular aortography at an early age to detect and to follow the progression of the disease.     

Arthritis in a patient with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a disorder of lipoprotein metabolism characterized by elevated cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, xanthomas and early onset atherosclerosis. Tendinitis and arthritis have been reported in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. A report is presented of a 9-year-old girl with an acute arthritic attack who was diagnosed as homozygote familial hypercholesterolemia with hypercholesterolemic arthritis.     

Relationship between expression of CD40-CD40 ligand system and serum cholesterol levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia is associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Enhanced levels of thrombin, fibrinogen and factor Ⅶc directly correlate with cholesterol levels.1 Activated platelets adhere to the intact endothelium and induce inflammatory responses in the endothelium, which substantially contribute to the early phase of atherosclerosis. Emerging lines of evidence support the role of CD40-CD40L interactions in atherosclerosis, thrombosis and inflammation.2 In atherosclerosis, inhibition of the CD40-CD40L interaction in LDL receptors or ApoE-deficient mice prevents the initiation of atherosclerosis and the evolvement of established atherosclerotic lesions to more advanced lesions.     

Abnormal low density lipoproteins in children with familial hypercholesterolemia — Effet of polyanion exchange resins

Summary In 20 children and adolescents with familial Type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia, serum lipids and lipoproteins were examined before and during treatment with polyanion exchange resins. The composition of LDL was compared to that of healthy siblings. The patients were given Colestyramine (0.6 g/kg body weight) and Colestipol (0.5 g/kg body weight) in a cross-over study for 8 weeks each, after they had been under dietary treatment for at least 12 months. In 6 children, drug treatment had to be stopped due to side-effects. The most common complaints were gastrointestinal discomfort and constipation.Cholesterol, triglycerides and phopholipids were measured in whole serum and cholesterol, triglycerides and Apolipoprotein-B in isolated lipoprotein fractions after ultracentrifugation. Apo-B was determined by radial immunodiffusion.The Apo-B: cholesterol ratio in whole serum and in the LDL fraction was identical in the patients and in the controls. The LDL triglyceride: Apo-B ratio, however, was about 50% lower in the patients. This abnormal LDL composition was not altered by therapy with polyanion exchange resins. HDL cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the patients than in healthy children, and remained low during therapy.The decrease of total and LDL cholesterol (25%) and Apo-B (20%) was similar under both Colestipol and Colestyramine. Triglycerides and phospholipids showed no significant changes in therapy.These studies were supported by grants of the Schweizerische Nationalfonds and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Sonderforschungsbereich 90, Cardiovasculäres System)     

PCSK9 inhibition with alirocumab in pediatric patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: The ODYSSEY KIDS study

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A 9.6 kilobase deletion in the low density lipoprotein receptor gene in Norwegian familial hypercholesterolemia subjects

Haplotype analysis of the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene was performed in Norwegian subjects heterozygous for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA, using an exon 18 specific probe and the restriction enzyme NcoI, showed that two out of 57 unrelated FH subjects had an abnormal 3.6 kb band. Further analyses revealed that this abnormal band was due to a 9.6 kb deletion that included exons 16 and 17. The 5' deletion breakpoint was after 245 bp of intron 15, and the 3' deletion breakpoint was in exon 18 after nucleotide 3390 of cDNA. Thus, both the membrane-spanning and cytoplasmatic domains of the receptor had been deleted. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed to identify this deletion among other Norwegian FH subjects. As a result of this screening one additional subject was found out of 124 subjects screened. Thus, three out of 181 (1.7%) unrelated Norwegian FH subject possessed this deletion. The deletion was found on the same haplotype in the three unrelated subjects, suggesting a common mutagenic event. The deletion is identical to a deletion (FH-Helsinki) that is very common among Finnish FH subjects. However, it is not yet known whether the mutations evolved separately in the two countries.     

Genetics of the low density lipoprotein receptor:

Fibroblast association (plasma membrane binding plus intracellular accumulation) and degradation of radioiodinated low density lipoprotein (125I-LDL) index plasma membrane LDL receptor activity. Cultured fibroblasts from 23 subjects affected with familial hypercholesterolemia (HC) and from 95 subjects without HC (non-HCs) were tested for 125I-LDL association and degradation. Both LDL receptor activity indices were twice as high in non-HC and HC heterozygous cell strains. This is compatible with a major gene effect on LDL receptor activity. However, a considerable overlap between non-HC and HC heterozygous values was found in the 125I-LDL association assay [median (range) 970 (330-2500), and 450 (250-490), respectively] and in the degradation assay [median (range) 810 (280-2020), and 470 (160-790), respectively]. The values are expressed as ng 125I-LDL X mg cell protein-1 X 4.5 h-1. These great overlaps in the LDL receptor activity indices support the view that the influence of LDL receptor activity on the HC phenotype may be smaller than believed previously. Furthermore, for the diagnosis of HC, these LDL receptor activity assays are far more expensive and have less sensitivity and specificity than simple serum cholesterol determination. The LDL receptor-dependent 125I-LDL association values for the HC heterozygous individuals clustered into four groups. Family data supported the hypothesis that this variation could be due to four different LDL receptor variants, each coded for by different alleles at the LDL receptor locus. If confirmed, this finding may have implications for the understanding of the variable expression of HC and also of the genetic impact on lipoprotein metabolism and susceptibility to atherosclerosis in non-HCs.     

高脂饮食诱导的高胆固醇血症对雄性Wistar大鼠肾脏的毒性作用

目的 研究高胆固醇血症对雄性Wistar大鼠肾脏的毒性作用。方法 用5%胆固醇饲料喂养雄性Wistar大鼠,制备高胆固醇动物模型,分别于实验第30、60和90d测定肾功能、24h尿蛋白、肾皮质胆固醇（Ch）及各磷脂含量,并进行病理形态及组织定量分析。结果 在实验周期内实验组（E组）大鼠血浆肌酐水平无显著变化;第90d,E组24h尿微量白蛋白、肾皮质Ch、磷脂酰胆碱（PC）及磷脂酰乙醇胺（PE）显著高于正常对照组（C组）;病理形态及组织定量分析显示肾小球系细胞增垂、炎性细胞浸润、系膜基质增多、毛细血管塌陷、上皮细胞足突融合,肾小球体积增大。IgG直接免疫荧光阴性,肾小球内无电子致密物沉积。相关分析显示肾小球体积、肾皮质Ch含量及24h尿微量白蛋白排泄率等与血浆总胆固醇（TCh）及低密度脂蛋白（LDL）浓度呈显著正相关关系。结论 饮食诱导的高胆固醇血症可导致Wistar大鼠肾毒性损伤。     

Dietary hypercholesterolemia aggravates contrast media-induced nephropathy

Background Contrast media administration can result in severe nephrotoxicity under pathological conditions such as diabetic nephropathy, congestive heart failure, dehydration, et al. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary hypercholesterolemia on contrast media-induced changes in renal function, blood flow, and histopathology.Methods Rats were fed either on a normal rodent diet ( group N) or a high-cholesterol supplemented diet ( group H; 4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid) for 8 weeks. Half of the animals ( n = 6) from each diet group were then given a tail vein injection of 60% diatrizoate (6 ml/kg; group NC and group HC)and the other half were administered saline. Total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, serum creatinine,creatinine clearance rate, fractional excretion of sodium and potassium, and cortical nitric oxide production were determined one day following contrast media administration. Renal blood flow was determined by color Doppler flow imaging and pulsed-mode Doppler. Renal histopathology was observed by light microscopy.Results Total serum cholesterol and resistance indices of renal blood vessels increased significantly,while creatinine clearance rate and production of nitric oxide in the renal cortex decreased markedly in group HC and group H when compared to group N and group NC. The creatinine clearance rate decreased significantly in group HC compared to group H. Serum creatinine levels and fractional excretion of sodium and potassium in group HC were significantly higher than those in the other three groups. Severe tubular degeneration and necrosis, protein cast accumulation, and medullary congestion were found in group HC.Conclusion Hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor for contrast media-induced nephropathy.Hypercholesterolemia aggravates contrast media-induced nephrotoxicity through the reduced production of nitric oxide.