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| IMAGES IN MEDICINE |
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| Year : 2007 | Volume
: 53
| Issue : 3 | Page : 185-186 |
Familial hypercholesterolemia with coarctation of aorta
A Aggarwal, A Gupta, M Narang, MMA Faridi
Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Delhi - 95, India
| Date of Submission | 19-Apr-2006 |
| Date of Decision | 27-Jun-2006 |
| Date of Acceptance | 05-Sep-2006 |
Correspondence Address:
A Aggarwal
Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Delhi - 95
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0022-3859.33863
How to cite this article:
Aggarwal A, Gupta A, Narang M, Faridi M. Familial hypercholesterolemia with coarctation of aorta. J Postgrad Med 2007;53:185-6 |
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FHC) is a rare genetic disorder affecting 0.2% of the general population and is characterized by increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The incidence of the homozygous form of the disease is about one in one million. [1] Aortic valve and coronary arteries are commonly involved in FHC. [2],[3] Coarctation of aorta is a rare association.
A six-year-old female presented with multiple nodular swellings over elbow and wrist which were noticed for last three years [Figure - 1],[Figure - 2]. She had history of frequent episodes of headache and vomiting. Family history was suggestive of sudden death in three siblings [Figure - 3]. The exact cause of death was not available but all of them had xanthomas. Parents had an abnormal lipid profile. Father had myocardial infarction at the age of 35 years. On examination, the child had a pulse rate of 98/min. Blood pressure in the lower limbs was less than upper limbs. Examination of cardiovascular system revealed ejection systolic murmur Grade IV over left third intercostal space, which was radiating upwards. Left renal bruit was audible.
Investigations revealed abnormal lipid profile with a total cholesterol of 810 mg/dL, LDL of 724 mg/dL, HDL 18 mg/dL, VLDL 18 mg/dL and triglycerides of 93 mg/dL. Her chest X-ray revealed cardiomegaly. The ECG revealed left ventricular hypertrophy. Echocardiography revealed bicuspid aortic valve with aortic stenosis and diffuse coarctation of descending aorta. Doppler was suggestive of diffuse left renal artery stenosis. Hypertension was controlled with calcium channel blockers and she was started on lovastatin 4 mg/kg. Her repeat lipid profile after two months of therapy revealed total cholesterol 200 mg/dL, LDL of 118 mg/dL and triglyceride of 74 mg/dL. Patient was referred to a cardiac centre for further management and was lost to follow-up.
In FHC of homozygous variety LDL-cholesterol levels are between 500-1000 mg/dL as seen in our patient. Pathogenesis in involvement of aortic valve and coronary arteries is an impaired endothelial function in prepubertal children with familial hypercholesterolemia. [3] There are reports of aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease in cases of FHC, though coarctation of aorta as seen in our case has not been reported.
The current recommended management for children with familial hypercholesterolemia includes a cholesterol-lowering diet, and a bile acid binding resin and statins. Available data from limited number of controlled trials suggest that statin treatment is also effective and safe in children. [4] Plasmapheresis is the treatment of choice in the homozygous form but it is expensive and has to be done on a biweekly basis. [5] The outcome is likely to be poor in people with homozygous type of familial hypercholesterolemia because it causes early heart disease and is resistant to treatment.
| :: References | |  |
| 1. | Seth RK, Gulati S, Seth S, Menon PS, Kalra V. Familial hypercholesterolemia. Indian J Pediatr 2004;71:97-9.  |
| 2. | de Jongh S, Lilien MR, Bakker HD, Hutten BA, Kastelein JJ, Stores ES. Family history of cardiovascular events and endothelial dysfunction in children with familial hypercholesterolemia. Atherosclerosis 2002;163:193-7. |
| 3. | Tonstad S, Joakimsen O, Stensland-Bugge E, Leren TP, Ose L, Russell D, et al. Risk factors related to carotid intima-media thickness and plaque in children with familial hypercholesterolemia and control subjects. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 1996;16:984-91. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 4. | Stein EA, Illingworth DR, Kwiterovich PO Jr, Liacouras CA, Siimes MA, Jacobson MS, et al. Efficacy and safety of lovastatin in adolescent males with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia-a randomised controlled trial. JAMA 1999;281:137-44. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 5. | Demetriou K, H'Maltezou E, Pierides AM. Familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia: Effective long-term treatment with cascade double filtration plasmapharesis. Blood Purif 2001;19:308-13. |
[Figure - 1], [Figure - 2], [Figure - 3]
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