Case report of one month and 15 days old baby with type V hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP)

BACKGROUND

Most of the patients with type 1 and V hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP) present with symptoms and signs of acute pancreatitis due to marked elevation of triglycerides, but this baby presented with a chest infection, which was later diagnosed as type V HLP on laboratory workup.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a 1 month and 15 days old baby boy, product of 2-nd degree consanguinity admitted to a nearby hospital with complaints of refusal to feed, cough and excessive crying. On examination his heart rate was 102 beats/min, respiratory rate was 55 breaths/min and temperature was within the normal range, provisional diagnosis of Pneumonia was made. His samples were tested at our laboratory, the lipid Profile at age of 1 month 15 days showed total cholesterol (TC) of 1400 mg/dl reference range (RR < 200 mg/dl), triglycerides (TG) of > 885 mg/dl after dilution it was 31,400 mg/dl (RR < 150 mg/dl), High density Cholesterol (HDL) of 35 mg/dl (RR > 40 mg/dl) and low density cholesterol (LDL) of 200 mg/dl (RR < 100 mg/dl). The patient's blood sample was grossly milky and lipemic in appearance. A "Refrigerator test" was performed after overnight storage of the sample in refrigerator at 4 °C, which gave a creamy layer at the top and clear infranatant due to caking of the Chylomicrons. Lipoprotein electrophoresis performed 1 month later showed Chylomicrons of 4.7% (RR 0-2%), Pre-beta lipoproteins of 51.5% (RR 5-22%), beta lipoproteins of 16.5% (RR 39-70%) and alpha of 27.3% (RR 23-53%). Initially he was diagnosed as type 1 HLP, but later on he was correctly diagnosed as type V HLP. Cholestyramine (Questran sachet) powder was started at a dose of 100 mg/kg on t.i.d basis with NAN-1 formula Milk at the age of 1 month and 15 days. On follow up, detailed advices regarding the weaning food was given to the mother (using olive oil in cooking, giving proteins and avoiding heavy fatty meals). His lipid profile was repeated at age of 3 months, which showed some improvement, his TGs were 1986 mg/dl and TC 105 mg/dl.

CONCLUSION

There is no universal diagnostic criterion for diagnosing Type V HLP, most likely, due to a scanty literature on this disorder. It stimulated us to report this case so that our findings may help for a timely diagnosis of the affected patients.

Chylomicronaemia--current diagnosis and future therapies

This Review discusses new developments in understanding the basis of chylomicronaemia--a challenging metabolic disorder for which there is an unmet clinical need. Chylomicronaemia presents in two distinct primary forms. The first form is very rare monogenic early-onset chylomicronaemia, which presents in childhood or adolescence and is often caused by homozygous mutations in the gene encoding lipoprotein lipase (LPL), its cofactors apolipoprotein C-II or apolipoprotein A-V, the LPL chaperone lipase maturation factor 1 or glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored high density lipoprotein-binding protein 1. The second form, polygenic late-onset chylomicronaemia, which is caused by an accumulation of several genetic variants, can be exacerbated by secondary factors, such as poor diet, obesity, alcohol intake and uncontrolled type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, and is more common than early-onset chylomicronaemia. Both forms of chylomicronaemia are associated with an increased risk of life-threatening pancreatitis; the polygenic form might also be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Treatment of chylomicronaemia focuses on restriction of dietary fat and control of secondary factors, as available pharmacological therapies are only minimally effective. Emerging therapies that might prove more effective than existing agents include LPL gene therapy, inhibition of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1, and interference with the production and secretion of apoC-III and angiopoietin-like protein 3.

The work-up for mixed hyperlipidemia: a case study

This case demonstrates that a history, physical exam, and laboratory studies are all needed to determine if the disorder is primary, secondary, or both.

Two cases with transient lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity impairment: evidence for the possible involvement of an LPL inhibitor

Two independent severe hypertriglyceridemic infants with transiently impaired lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity were observed and the causes were explored. Both infants were female, born prematurely with low birth weight and developed hypertriglyceridemia (Fredrickson type V hyperlipidemia: high VLDL and low LDL/HDL) a few months after birth. While mass levels of their post-heparin plasma LPL and apoprotein C-II (apo C-II), a physiological activator of LPL, were normal, their post-heparin plasma LPL activities were remarkably impaired. Both of their mothers' post-heparin plasma LPL activities were slightly or moderately impaired as well, without a decrease in the LPL mass level. No mutations in the genes for LPL and apo C-II were detected in either patient. In an in vitro study with their serum at onset, we could not detect any distinct circulating inhibitors for LPL. There was no data supporting infection or autoimmune diseases, which might have an impact on LPL activity, during the follow-up period. Levels of their plasma triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were decreased quickly by a dietary intervention with medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) milk and kept normal even after stopping the intervention at around age 1 year. However, their low post-heparin LPL activity persisted and returned to normal at around age 2 years. Their low HDL cholesterol levels persisted even after recovery of the TG and TC levels, although lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and cholesterol-ester-transfer protein (CETP), two key enzymes of HDL metabolism, were normal throughout the course. The exact reasons why their post-heparin LPL activities were impaired for a certain period and why their HDL cholesterol levels have remained low are still unclear.

CONCLUSION

Transiently impaired LPL activity with no defect in LPL enzyme induced severe hypertriglyceridemia in infants. The transient occurrence of inhibitor(s) for LPL was proposed.

Autoimmune hyperlipidemia in a child with autoimmune hepatitis

The first reported case of a girl with a combination of autoimmune hyperlipidemia and autoimmune hepatitis is described. She presented at the age of 9 years with fever, headaches, and abnormal lipid profile. Months later, she had clinical manifestations, biochemical findings, and the histologic picture of autoimmune hepatitis. Subsequently, she also showed signs and symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus. All of her clinical manifestations and biochemical abnormalities dramatically improved with immunosuppression. The overlapping syndrome of systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune hepatitis, and autoimmune hyperlipidemia is discussed.

Severe acute pancreatitis associated with hyperlipidemia: report of two cases and review of the literature in Japan

Two cases of severe acute pancreatitis associated with type V hyperlipoproteinemia are reported. A 39-year-old obese woman was hospitalized with continuous severe abdominal pain. The diagnosis was made on the day of admission to our hospital, and treatment using continuous regional arterial infusion of a protease inhibitor and an antibiotic was performed with good results. The other patient was a 35 year-old woman in the 35th week of pregnancy, and a diagnosis of gestational hyperlipidemic pancreatitis was made on the day of onset. She was treated supportively using intravenous hyperalimentation, protease inhibitors, and antibiotics. She recovered from the acute pancreatitis and delivered a healthy term infant. It is difficult to diagnose acute pancreatitis in patients with type V hyperlipoproteinemia, because even when serum amylase levels are high, the value is reduced by high serum triglycerides. Early diagnosis was achieved in both of the present cases, and early intensive therapy was performed, which may be of the utmost importance in saving the life of a patient.

Familial type V hyperlipoproteinaemia in identical twins homozygous for apoliprotein variant E2: report

Hyperchylomicronaemia and elevated very low density lipoproteins were found in relatively obese 47 year old identical twin brothers. Lipoprotein apoprotein studies showed the presence of apoprotein CII, the activator of lipoprotein lipase, and both men were homozygous E2/2. Studies on the ability of the brothers to clear triglyceride rich particles showed some impairment of post heparin lipase activity, and a slower clearance of infused fat emulsion. The values improved after weight loss. There was some evidence of impaired capacity of the patients' high density lipoprotein to activate post heparin lipoprotein lipase.

Clinical diagnosis of hyperlipoproteinemia

Specific physical findings are associated with the different phenotypes of hyperlipoproteinemia and may point up the need for further medical work-up to determine whether hyperlipoproteinemia is primary or secondary. The clinical manifestations of severe elevations in plasma lipid levels include xanthomas, which may be tendinous, tuberous, or eruptive. Xanthelasma is a common type of xanthoma that is seen in the creases of the eyelids. Other clinical manifestations of hyperlipoproteinemia include corneal arcus, lipemia retinalis, abdominal pain and pancreatitis. In patients with certain types of xanthoma whose serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels are normal, hyperlipoproteinemia has been diagnosed on the basis of abnormalities in plasma apoproteins and their subfractions.

[Primary hyperlipoproteinemia in childhood (author's transl)]

Type V hyperlipoproteinemia is an unusual entity in children. Only 6 cases have been described so far to our knowledge. Authors present a 9 year old male that came for diagnosis of a hepatosplenomegaly. There was no evidence of abdominal pain, xanthomas or pancreatitis. Secondary disorders such as uncontrolled insulinopenic diabetes mellitus, glycogen storage disease, administration of estrogen compounds, nephrotic syndrome or uremia, and dysglobulinemias were excluded. His father presented the same lipoprotein pattern suggesting a dominant mode of inheritance. The administration of heparin showed a good response of serum proteinlipase.

Hyperlipidaemia diagnosed at lumbar puncture

A patient presenting with subarachnoid haemorrhage and high lipid concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (taken at lumbar puncture), who has later shown to have type V hyperlipidaemia is described. This case, so far as can be ascertained by the authors, is the first report of hyperlipidaemia being diagnosed from CSF examination.

The effect of partial ileal bypass on plasma lipoproteins

Plasma lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were determined before and at 3 months and 1 year after partial ileal surgery in 28 male survivors of first myocardial infarction (eight normolipidemic subjects and eight type II-A, two type II-B, eight type IV and two type V hyperlipoproteinemic subjects). All subjects had marked reductions in plasma total cholesterol (average 45% and 33% in the type V subjects and 37% and 31% in the other 26 subjects at 3 months and 1 year after surgeryyy). Except for the two type V subjects, all had even more marked reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol than in the total plasma cholesterol, averaging 51% at 3 months and 49% at 1 year after surger. There were no significant changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels. The hypertriglyceridemic subjects had marked reductions in plasma triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, whereas the normotriglyceridemic subjects (normals and II-A) had slight increases in these two measurements after surgery. Partial ileal bypass tends to normalize elevated plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels and results in a maximal lowering in LDL-cholesterol concentrations without altering the HDL-cholesterol level.

[Advantages and limitations of the nephelometric method in the diagnosis of hyperlipoidemia in the diabetic (author's transl)]

The AA., in a comparative study of the nephelometric and electrophoretic methods in the typification of hyperlipoidemia in diabetics, demonstrate close concordance between the two methods as regards Type IV and Type V hyperlipoidemia, with the difference that the nephelometric method often reveals in increase in chylomicrons with an individuation in excess. The nephelometric technique also reveals an increase in M particles in hypertriglyceridemic patients even in cases in which the electrophoretic prebetalipoproteins appear normal. This method, thanks to its simplicity and reliability, therefore appears useful in mass screening for prebeta-VLDL hyperlipoidemia in diabetics.