The investigation and treatment of hyperlipidaemia in general practice

An investigation was made into the incidence of type IIa hyperlipidaemia in two generations of a family in which there was a tendency to develop premature ischaemic heart disease. Forty-three per cent of those tested showed a lipoprotein abnormality characteristic type IIa hyperlipidaemia. Treatment of this condition, by dietary and drug therapy, was uniformaly successful. The importance of early detection of this condition by the general practitioner is emphasized, in view of the high incidence of premature ischaemic heart disease in such patients.