title: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder of lipoprotein metabolism characterized by very high plasma concentrations of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), tendon xanthomas and increased risk of premature coronary heart disease (CHD). FH is a public health problem throughout the world. There are 10,000,000 people with FH worldwide, mainly heterozygotes, and approximately 85% of males and 50% of females with FH will suffer a coronary event before 65 years old if appropriate preventive efforts are not implemented. Early identification of persons with FH and their relatives, and the early start of treatment are essential issues in the prevention of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death in this population. However, guidelines for the general population formally exclude FH from their diagnostic and treatment recommendations. These guidelines have been elaborated by a group of international experts with the intention to answer the main questions about heterozygous FH (heFH) subjects that physicians worldwide face in the diagnosis and management of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Lipid Unit, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Avda Isabel La Católica 1-3, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. civeira@unizar.es
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Civeira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents