Hyperlipidaemia is the condition in which the levels of lipids in the blood are too high. This is a cause, or potential cause, of various disorders. In about five per cent of cases these conditions run in the family, through a dominant gene, and are present from birth. Most such people develop serious heart disease from coronary artery damage before the age of fifty. A lipid is any fatty material or fat-like substance. Examples include normal body fat, cholesterol, other steroid substances, and substances containing fats, such as phospholipids, glycolipids and lipoproteins. The lipids stored in the body serve as an important source of fuel. They are also constituents of all cells. All cell membranes are made largely of phospholipids.

Symptoms

People with genetic hyperlipidaemia may have prominent white rings round the edges of their corneas (arcus juvenilis) at an early stage in life. Note that this appearance is normal in older people (arcus senilis). They often have yellow plaques in the skin around the eyes (xanthelasma).

Causes

Many perfectly normal people have undesirably high levels of fats and cholesterol in their bloodstreams, but this is simply due to excessive intake. Hyperlipidaemia may be due to conditions such as diabetes, pancreatitis or obstruction of the bile system, and the condition usually responds to the treatment of these primary causes, when this is possible.

Treatment

In genetic hyperlipidaemia, stringent dietary control and correction of obesity is essential. Low-calorie diets with restricted fats are necessary and, in most cases, so are drugs that reduce the levels of fat in the blood.