Myocardial infarction in a 36-year-old man with combined ABCA1 and APOA-1 deficiency

In this report, we present a patient who suffered from a myocardial infarction at an extremely young age. The only remarkable finding in the risk factor workup was a near undetectable high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol plasma level (0.09 mmol/L). Genetic analysis of key genes involved in HDL metabolism resulted in the discovery of 2 very rare mutations in the ABCA1 and APOA1 genes. We discuss the effects of these mutations on HDL metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport and interpret these findings in relation to the extensive atherosclerosis at a very young age in this patient.