The lipoprotein lipase gene could exert an influence in these circumstances.To study the relationship of pattern B LDL and lipids with N291S polymorphism of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in FCH patients.Lipid profile, apolipoproteins, diameter of LDL and N291S polymorphism were determined in 93 patients with FCH and 286 individuals from the general population.FCH patients with N291S polymorphism showed a lower mean diameter of LDL.
One of the roles of lipoprotein lipase is in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-like protein-mediated uptake of lipoprotein remnants in the liver and up to 20% of FCH patients show a genetic abnormality of this enzyme.
Linkage analysis revealed no significant relationship between the D9N or N291SLPL gene mutations and the FCH phenotype (hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia or increased apo B concentrations).
Previous work has suggested that genetic polymorphisms of the apoA-I gene and functional abnormalities of the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene are associated with FCH.
Our study of male FCH patients revealed the presence of a common mutation in the LPL-gene that is associated with lipoprotein abnormalities, indicating that defective LPL is at least one of the factors contributing to the FCH-phenotype.