[Genetic aspects of primary atherogenic dyslipoproteinemia]

Large progress have been made in the last 15 years about knowledge of genetic of atherogenic dyslipoproteinemias. The genes of apolipoproteins, lipoprotein receptors and enzymes of lipoprotein metabolism are now located and their structures are known. Many gene defects are described and are responsible of definite diseases such as familial hypercholesterolemia, familial dysbetalipoproteinemia, familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia. Beside this pure genetic disorders, other atherogenic dyslipoproteinemias are result of interactions of genetic and environmental factors. This new physio-pathological approach gives a better comprehension of the clinical features than phenotype classification based on plasma cholesterol and triglycerides levels and lipoprotein electrophoretic pattern.