Protocolo de estudio bioquímico de hipercolesterolemia familiar en un niño de 6 años

Resumen

La hipercolesterolemia familiar (HF) es una de las enfermedades hereditarias más frecuentes, afectando a unas 10 millones de personas en todo el mundo. Se caracteriza por niveles elevados de c-LDL y por una elevada prevalencia de enfermedad cardiovascular prematura. La HF se origina por mutaciones en el gen que codifica el receptor de c-LDL. Presentamos el caso de un niño de 6 años que es remitido al laboratorio de Riesgo Cardiovascular (RCV) por sospecha de hipercolesterolemia familiar. Se le realiza una bioquímica general y un perfil de RCV, donde se observa un colesterol total y un c-LDL elevado, con el resto de los parámetros dentro de los rangos de normalidad. Se procede a la confirmación de la HF heterocigota mediante la determinación de la mutación del receptor de c-LDL (Lipochip^®) mediante análisis genético.

Abstract

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is one of the most common hereditary diseases, affecting about 10 million people around the world. It is characterised by high levels of c-LDL, and a high prevalence of premature cardiovascular disease. It is caused by mutations in the gene that encodes the c-LDL receptor. We present the case of a 6 year-old child who was referred to the Cardiovascular Risk (CRV) Laboratory due to suspicion of familial hypercholesterolaemia. General biochemistry analysis and a CRV profile were performed, showing a high total cholesterol and c-LDL. As the rest of parameters were within the normal ranges, secondary causes of hypercholesterolaemia, such as hypothyroidism and diabetes, were ruled out. The presence of the FH heterozygote was confirmed by determining the mutation of the c-LDL receptor mutation by gene analysis (Lipochip ^®).