[Hyperalphalipoproteinemia: study of a family]

A family with hyperalphalipoproteinemia is described, being exceptional the longevity of some of their members. The proband, a 36 years-old woman with excellent health, showed total cholesterol levels of 6.77 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol 3.00 mmol/l and apoprotein (apo) AI 2.4 g/l. HDL-cholesterol levels of her mother and two sisters were 1.86, 2.07 and 2.02 mmol/l, respectively. Their serum apo AI levels were 2.11, 2.32 and 2.30 g/l, respectively. It is to emphasize about the necessity to investigate the serum HDL-cholesterol, mainly in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia, to detect possible hyperalphalipoproteinemia.