title: Are normolipidaemic patients with xanthelasma prone to atherosclerosis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When patients with xanthelasma are found to have normal lipid levels, dermatologists usually proceed with their treatment without further investigations. However, there is some evidence that normolipidaemic patients with xanthelasma (NPX) have a similar cardiovascular risk to hyperlipidaemic patients with xanthelasma (HPX).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the risk of atherosclerosis in Egyptian NPX compared with HPX and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 20 NPX, 20 HPX and 40 normolipidaemic controls were enrolled. All participants were matched for age and sex. Diabetes was an exclusion factor. Carotid ultrasonography was used to measure intima-media thickness (IMT). Other risk factors of atherosclerosis such as high blood pressure, obesity and smoking were also assessed, as well as atherosclerotic markers, including total leucocytic count (TLC), C-reactive protein and lipoprotein a.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although still within the normal range, total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in NPX compared with controls. IMT was significantly higher in NPX compared with controls, but lower than that of HPX. The increased IMT in NPX was not related to any of the studied risk factors. Apart from significantly higher body mass index and TLC, NPX showed no significant differences from controls for other risk factors of atherosclerosis or for atherosclerotic markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NPX seem to have a higher risk of atherosclerosis independent of lipid concentrations, and should therefore be fully investigated in order to allow detection and early management of such risk.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Kasr Al Ainy Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Esmat
authors: Department of Dermatology, Kasr Al Ainy Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: M R E
authors: MR
authors: Abdel-Halim
authors: Department of Dermatology, Kasr Al Ainy Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Fawzy
authors: Vascular Medicine Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kasr Al Ainy Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Nassef
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kasr Al Ainy Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Esmat
authors: Department of Medical Biochemistry, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Ramzy
authors: Department of Dermatology, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: E S
authors: ES
authors: El Fouly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014973:Xanthomatosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol