Low-density lipoprotein levels and not mutation status predict intima-media thickness in familial...

Intima-media thickness (IMT) is a well-described marker of cardiovascular disease. In this study we aim to determine whether low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and disease-related mutation status can predict IMT in patients with severe familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) referred for or on LDL apheresis.

Genetic screening, lipid profile testing, and IMT measurements were performed on a series of 33 severe FH patients (19 homozygous) on LDL apheresis treatments (LDL 447 ± 151 mg/dL, age range 6-60 years). Data were then compared with literature IMT-LDL data for normal subjects, mild FH patients, and severe FH patients (18, 41, and 6 studies, respectively).

Age-adjusted IMT was linearly related to LDL levels over a wide range of values (<500 mg/dL), except for the severe FH no-apheresis cohort. Alternatively, our severe FH population (mostly on apheresis) did follow the mild FH/control age-adjusted IMT-LDL relation.

In severe FH, measuring LDL levels is more predictive of increased IMT than genetic screening.