Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Clinical Pearl of the Day: Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia, is genetic disorder, causing having a very high cholesterol level, which affects the way the body processes cholesterol.

Insight:

• The genetic changes that cause familial hypercholesterolemia are inherited. The condition is present from birth, but symptoms may not appear until adulthood.
• People who inherit the condition from both parents usually develop symptoms in childhood. If this rare and more severe variety is left untreated, death often occurs before age 20.
• Symptoms may include negative impact on skin occurring on the hands, elbows and knees; thickening tendons, including the Achilles tendon; and it can affect the eyes.
• Familial hypercholesterolemia may be more common in certain populations, including Ashkenazi Jews, some Lebanese groups, and French Canadians.
• Diagnosis may include a cholesterol test and genetic test.
• Treatment may include statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol XL), lovastatin (Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin, rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor), ezetimibe (Zetia) and PCSK9 inhibitors such as alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha).

Sources:

• Familial hypercholesterolemia - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
• familial hypercholesterolemia - Google Search