Diseases Treatment

What is this Condition?

Hyperlipoproteinemia is the name for five distinct metabolic disorders, all of which may be inherited. This condition interferes with how the blood carries fats. Some forms are mild, producing symptoms that can be cured by diet, while others are potentially fatal.

What Causes it?

About one in five people with blood tests that show high lipid and lipoprotein levels has hyperlipoproteinemia. The disorder may also be linked to other conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, or disorders of the pancreas or thyroid gland.

What are its Symptoms and how is it Diagnosed?

Each type of hyperlipoproteinemia has distinctive symptoms:

• Type I causes attacks of severe abdominal pain which usually occur when the person eats fatty foods. It may also cause general discomfort, loss of appetite, and a fever. The doctor checks for a rigid or tender abdomen, tenderness around the liver or spleen, and eruptions of pinkish yellow deposits on the skin. He or she also looks for reddish white blood vessels in the retinas of the eyes.

• Type II causes firm masses on the person’s Achilles tendons and the tendons of the hands and feet. The doctor checks for yellow patches or nodules on the skin, an opaque ring surrounding the cornea in the eye, and premature coronary artery disease.

• Type III can produce soft, inflamed sores over the elbows and knees. The doctor checks for vascular disease, yellow patches and nodules on the person’s skin (especially the hands), and premature clogging of the arteries.

• Type IV is linked to overeating, obesity, and diabetes. The doctor checks for high blood pressure, signs of early coronary artery disease, and clogged arteries.

• Type V causes abdominal pain (most common), yellow nodules on the skin, and reddish white blood vessels in the retinas of the eyes. The doctor checks for an inflamed pancreas, nerve damage, yellow nodules on the arms and legs, and liver problems.

How is it Treated?

In this condition, the doctor tries to identify and treat any underlying problem, such as diabetes. If there is no contributing problem, the primary treatment for Types II, III and IV is dietary management - namely, restricting cholesterol intake. If diet alone isn’t effective, it may be supplemented by drug therapy. Other treatments depend on the type of hyperlipoproteinemia.