[Autoimmune hyperchylomicronemia]

The concept of autoimmune hyperlipidemia was proposed originally by Beaumont et al. Since then, hyperlipidemic patients with autoantibodies to circulating lipoproteins as well as enzymes related to lipoprotein metabolism have been documented. However, the mechanism remains speculative except in a few cases. We described a patient with autoimmune hyperchylomicronemia due to autoantibodies against lipoproteins lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase. We also identified a hyperlipidemic case with inhibitory monoclonal antibodies against low density lipoprotein binding to fibroblasts and multiple myeloma. These data suggest that screening of patients with nonfamilial hyperlipidemia, especially those with associated autoimmune diseases, may result in the identification of other such patients.