Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is one of the most common fatal genetic diseases, affecting over 25,000 Belgians. It is responsible for very high cholesterol levels (> 300mg/dL) from birth, along with an increased risk of early vascular, cardiac, and cerebral complications, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, from the age of 30 years onwards in men and 40 in women. Cardiovascular complications may, however, be prevented by means of early diagnosis and proper treatment, ideally started in childhood.
Key Words
Familial hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular diseases, cardiovascular prevention, lipoproteins, LDL cholesterol, genetics, atherosclerosis