- How do you interpret these findings?
The triglycerides are normal, but the total cholesterol is high and the HDL cholesterol is low. Thus, the profile suggests an increased risk for development of atherosclerosis.
- What is the probable cause for these findings?
There are many possible causes. For a moderate elevation of the cholesterol as seen in this patient, there may not be a specific explanation, or the problem may be multifactorial. Dietary factors may play a role. Much larger elevations in cholesterol may suggest hereditary hypercholesterolemia, in which there are fewer LDL receptors in the heterozygote (with total cholesterol in the 300 - 400 range) and almost no LDL receptors in the homozygote (with total cholesterol exceeding 500).
- What can be done to help?
Reducing total fat, reducing cholesterol intake, and increasing exercise can help. For cholesterol levels that remain high, there is drug therapy. Her BMI is 30.9, placing her at high risk for cardiovascular complications, so weight reduction is indicated.
- Is there a medication available to treat this condition?
The "statin" drugs have become popular. They work by inhibiting the hepatic enzyme HMG Co-A reductase. The conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate is an early step in the biosynthetic pathway for endogenous cholesterol synthesis.
