Authors: Anna Raper Daniel M Kolansky Marina Cuchel
Publish Date: 2011/12/02
Volume: 14, Issue: 1, Pages: 11-16
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolemia FH is a genetic lipid disorder that is characterized by severely elevated cholesterol levels and premature cardiovascular disease Both the heterozygous and homozygous forms of FH require aggressive cholesterollowering therapy Statins alone frequently do not lower these patients’ cholesterol to therapeutic levels and some patients are intolerant to statins Combination or monotherapy with other current pharmacotherapies are options but even with these some FH patients do not meet their lowdensity lipoprotein LDL cholesterol goals In the cases of statin intolerance LDL apheresis may be another treatment option There are currently several novel therapies in development for LDL lowering that target either production or catabolism of LDL plaque regression and potentially gene transfer We conclude that there is a need beyond statins for patients with FH especially in cases of statin intolerance and when even the highest doses of statin do not get patients to goal cholesterol levels
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