A case report of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia with
LDLR gene mutation complicated by premature coronary artery disease detected in primary care.
Eur Heart J Case Rep 2024;
8:ytae039. [PMID:
38425725 PMCID:
PMC10903170 DOI:
10.1093/ehjcr/ytae039]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Background
Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic condition predominantly caused by the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene mutation.
Case summary
This is the case of a 54-year-old Malay woman with genetically confirmed FH complicated by premature coronary artery disease (PCAD). She was clinically diagnosed in primary care at 52 years old, fulfilling the Simon Broome Criteria (possible FH), Dutch Lipid Clinic Criteria (score of 8: probable FH), and Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Case Ascertainment Tool (relative risk score of 9.51). Subsequently, she was confirmed to have a heterozygous LDLR c.190+4A>T intron 2 pathogenic variant at the age of 53 years. She was known to have hypercholesterolaemia and was treated with statin since the age of 25. However, the lipid-lowering agent was not intensified to achieve the recommended treatment target. The delayed FH diagnosis has caused this patient to have PCAD and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the age of 29 years and a second PCI at the age of 49 years. She also has a very strong family history of hypercholesterolaemia and PCAD, where seven out of eight of her siblings were affected. Despite this, FH was not diagnosed early, and cascade screening of family members was not conducted, resulting in a missed opportunity to prevent PCAD.
Discussion
Familial hypercholesterolaemia can be clinically diagnosed in primary care to identify those who may require genetic testing. Multidisciplinary care focuses on improving identification, cascade screening, and management of FH, which is vital to improving prognosis and ultimately preventing PCAD.
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