Lipid Anomalies in Cases of Xanthelasma

Evidence for the chylomicron origin of lipids accumulating in diabetic eruptive xanthomas: a correlative lipid biochemical, histochemical, and electron microscopic study

“…Thus the composition of diabetic xanthomas differed significantly from tendinous, tuberous, and planar xanthomas found in association with various other disorders of lipid transport in which cholesterol (particularly esterified cholesterol) has been reported to be the major accumulating lipid (5)(6)(7)(8)32). These latter forms of xanthoma developed in the presence of increased concentrations of beta and (or) pre-beta lipoproteins which result in hypercholesterolemia and variable degrees of hypertriglyceridemia (33).…”

Origin, Structure, and Function of the Xanthoma Cell

“…Also, biochemical studies have shown that younger xanthelasmas contain mainly esterified cholesterol, whereas in older xanthelasmas free cholesterol prevails [10].…”

“…(1) Pathological lipoproteins must be present in the plasma: Whether in normolipemic xanthelasmas qualitative changes in the lipoproteins may be an inducing factor has not been proven definitely [10].…”

Xanthelasma palpebrarum and risk of atherosclerosis

“…2 Although xanthelasma is a type of xanthoma, 25%-70% (on average, 50%) of patients in most series are normolipidemic (defined initially as those with normal cholesterol and triglyceride levels). [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The main lipid that is stored in both hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic xanthelasmas is cholesterol; [13][14][15] as in most other hypercholesterolemic xanthomas, 16,17 the major portion of the cholesterol is esterified. [13][14][15] There is some similarity between cholesterol-accumulating xanthomas and atheroma formation, at least experimentally.…”

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The main lipid that is stored in both hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic xanthelasmas is cholesterol; [13][14][15] as in most other hypercholesterolemic xanthomas, 16,17 the major portion of the cholesterol is esterified. [13][14][15] There is some similarity between cholesterol-accumulating xanthomas and atheroma formation, at least experimentally. 16,18 Since most types of hypercholesterolemic xanthomas are associated with an increased incidence of atherosclerosis, the question arises as to whether xanthelasma is also a cutaneous marker for increased risk for atherosclerosis.…”