Triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: predicting disorders in parents from their children

To determine whether lipid disorders can be predicted in parents after such disorders are identified initially in their children. Although this relation has been well determined for children with high cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), it has not been as well described for disorders involving triglycerides (TG) or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), or their interaction with LDL-C.

Serum lipid values were obtained from 232 families in the comparison population of a large genetics study. Subjects were classified into four groups based on their lipid status: 1) isolated LDL-C disorder, defined by a high LDL-C level and normal TG and HDL-C levels; 2) isolated TG/HDL-C disorder, defined by either high TG, low HDL-C, or both, and normal LDL-C; 3) combined disorder, defined by high LDL-C in addition to either high TG, low HDL-C, or both; and 4) normal, defined by the absence of any of the above disorders. The frequencies of these disorders were noted in both parents and children, and logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine whether the presence of these disorders in at least one child in the family could predict similar disorders in the parents.

Children with isolated LDL-C or TG/HDL-C disorder were more likely to have parents with the same disorder as themselves (P = .002 and P = .04, respectively). Children with the combined disorder were more likely to have parents with any lipid disorder (P = .009), but especially isolated LDL-C (P = .002) and isolated TG/HDL-C (P = .05).

A classification scheme defining disorders of TG and HDL-C, LDL-C, or a combination can be useful for predicting lipid disorders in parents after such disorders are identified initially in their children.