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Updated: May 29, 2026

A Familial Hypercholesterolemia Human Liver Chimeric Mouse Model Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatocytes
Published on: September 15, 2018
Severe hypercholesterolemia in patients with graft-vs-host disease affecting the liver after stem cell
1Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA. rjoukhadar@coh.org
Objective:
To review the available literature on severe hypercholesterolemia occurring in the context of graft-vs-host disease affecting the liver.
Methods:
A literature search was conducted in PubMed for articles on hypercholesterolemia occurring in the context of graft-vs-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The review included the type of lipid abnormalities observed, complications, and available management strategies.
Results:
Severe hypercholesterolemia can occur in patients who develop graft-vs-host disease after transplant. We describe 8 patients with severe hypercholesterolemia occurring in the context of graft-vs-host disease affecting the liver after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (7 from the literature and 1 from our institution). No association was observed with a specific age, sex, type of hematologic malignancy, or use of a specific immunosuppressant. The elevated cholesterol is either due to high concentrations of lipoprotein X or low-density lipoprotein. Unlike low-density lipoprotein, lipoprotein X may not be atherogenic.
Conclusions:
Treatment may not be required when lipoprotein X is the major elevated lipoprotein unless hyperviscosity occurs, but treatment is indicated when there is elevation in low-density lipoprotein. Plasmapheresis may be necessary. Ultimate treatment is control of the graft-vs-host disease affecting the liver that would improve or completely resolve the hyperlipidemia.
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