Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia
Alternate Names : Multiple Lipoprotein-Type Hyperlipidemia
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Treatment
The goal of treatment is to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic heart disease.
The first step is to change what you eat. This is tried for several months before drug therapy is added. Diet changes include reducing total fat intake to less than 30% of the total calories consumed. Saturated fat intake is reduced by decreasing the amounts of beef, chicken, pork, and lamb; substituting low-fat dairy products for full-fat ones; and eliminating coconut and palm oil. Cholesterol intake is reduced by eliminating egg yolks and organ meats.
Further reductions in dietary fat may be recommended after the initial trial period. Dietary counseling is often recommended to help people make these adjustments to their eating habits. Weight loss and regular exercise may also aid in lowering cholesterol levels.
Drug therapy may be initiated if diet, exercise, and weight loss efforts have not reduced the cholesterol levels after an adequate trial period. Various cholesterol reducing agents are available including:
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bile acid-sequestering resins (cholestyramine and colestipol)
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nicotinic acid
- lovastatin and other 'statin' drugs
- gemfibrozil
- probucol
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