Hipercolesterolemia familiar: Artículo de revisión

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder that may clinically manifest since birth and is characterized by abnormally high plasma LDL cholesterol (LDLc) levels and a high early cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rate. FH has two presentation forms: heterozygous FH (HeFH) and homozygous FH (HoFH), the latter being more severe and with a clinical onset during the first few years of life. Historically, HeFH prevalence is of 1:500 and HoFH of 1:1 million; however, real data are probably higher because evidence indicated that both conditions are underdiagnosed. Recommended therapy, besides lifestyle changes, are statins; nevertheless, these drugs make it difficult in many cases to achieve reasonable cLDL reductions, therefore an association with other therapeutic models, some of which have recently been approved, is required. Since no review papers have been published in Colombia regarding FH, the Colombian Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery Society invited several medical specialties to draft a document on the subject that would sum up, in a practical and updated way, clinical, genetics, diagnostics and therapeutic aspects.