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General
Information: Inherited High Cholesterol
| What
are inherited high cholesterol disorders? |
MED-PED
will initially focus on the most frequently-occurring
inherited cholesterol disorder, namely
familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). FH
is a genetic disorder that causes very
high cholesterol levels. These levels are
about twice normal, and often over 10 mmol/l
(386 mg/dl). FH occurs in approximately
1 person in 500 (0.2%) of the general population.
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| What
are the dangers of FH? |
Left
untreated, FH is likely to cause premature
death from heart attack (often in men aged
less than 55 and in women less than 65).
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| Can
FH be treated and what are the benefits of
treatment? |
If
treated effectively, cholesterol levels can
be reduced to near normal, and the risk of
premature heart attack substanially reduced.
Such treatment has been shown to result in
regression of coronary artery disease and
reduced heart-related illnesses in both men
and women with FH.
These benefits of treatment
are likely to be greater if treatment is
begun early in life.
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| How
can FH be detected? |
Detection
of FH is possible through the measurement
of cholesterol in the relatives of those
who are affected with FH. Elevated blood
cholesterol levels are found in about 50%
of family members, while the other 50% have
normal cholesterol levels and do not have
FH.
It is very important to detect
the presence of FH in children and young
adults in order to institute treatment
as early in life as possible.
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| How
is FH inherited? |
Because
the gene for FH is a dominant gene, relatives
with FH will pass the condition on to their
children of whom, on average, 50% will be
affected and 50% will be normal.
The key to the diagnosis
of FH lies in the family tree. One side
of the family will have had several members
affected by premature death from either
heart attack or sudden death from unknown
cause (presumed heart attack).
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| Why
participate in MEDPED? |
MED-PED
saves lives. Participation in MED-PED will
help to detect family members with FH and
improve their treatment in order to prevent
future heart attack.
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