Authors: Anita L. R. Saldanha, Ana Paula Pantoja Margeotto, André Luis Valera Gasparoto, Abel Pereira, Tania Leme da Rocha Martinez.
The present revision brings the main characteristics of the different manifestations of hyperlipidemias. In each form there is one or more lipoprotein alterations, manifesting risk when apoprotein B lipoproteins are increased or when apoprotein A lipoproteins are decreased. The interest in this issue has to do with the cardiovascular risk that it involves. Normal or “goal” values vary from patient to patient depending on their clinical features, family history and lipid profile itself. Not only are there genetic heritage involved in the serum levels of cholesterol of each lipoprotein but also secondary causes have to be considered such as hypothyroidism for example as well as the use of some medications metabolized in the liver. The presence of xanthomas strongly corroborates being primary or genetic the cause of the dyslipidemia. The collection of samples can be made in a non fasting condition for two measurements only: total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. In the impossibility of not being able to draw a fasting sample, risk evaluation can be evaluated by the non HDL cholesterol value. Recently a new formula for calculation of LDL cholesterol independent of triglycerides concentration is being used, Martin’s formula. Quality control of the techniques involved in the assays must always be checked by the laboratories and the updated reference values should always accompany the results sheet.
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