Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia

Alternative Names

Type III hyperlipoproteinemia; Deficient or defective apolipoprotein E

Symptoms

Symptoms may not be seen until age 20 or older.

Yellow deposits of fatty material in the skin called xanthomas may appear on the eyelids, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or on the tendons of the knees and elbows.

Atherosclerosis develops. There may be early chest pain (angina) or decreased blood flow to specific parts of the body, causing transient ischemic attacks of the brain or peripheral artery disease.

Signs and tests

Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition include:

Angiogram
Genetic testing for apolipoprotein E (apoE)
Heart stress test
Total cholesterol
Triglyceride level
Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) test

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Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia

Review Date: 01/23/2008
Reviewed By: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).