Xanthelasma palpebrarum and risk of atherosclerosis

Xanthomas: Clinical and pathophysiological relations

“…However the vast majority of cases (>95%) are xanthelasma palpebrarum 30 . According to earlier studies, the prevalence was 0.3-1.1%, in women twice as high as in men and subjects older than 50 years prevailed.…”

“…Individuals with xanthelasma have dyslipidemia age-dependently in 20-70% (ref. 30 ). In a Danish prospective study (The Copenhagen City Heart Study) comprising almost 13 000 subjects followed up for more than 20 years, the presence of xanthelasma was associated with a significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction (by 48%), ischemic heart disease (by 38%), and ischemic disease of the lower extremities (by 70%), even after adjustment for some covariates, such as age, sex, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypolipidemic treatment, and postmenopausal status 31 .…”

Xanthelasma palpebrarum: a marker of premature atherosclerosis (risk of atherosclerosis in xanthelasma)

“…According to many epidemiological studies, a high prevalence of atherosclerotic vascular and heart diseases has been recorded in XP patients with both elevated and normal lipid levels 3 8. In the latter, the cause of XP remains uncertain and other probable risk factors need elucidation.…”

“…In a small series comprising 17 XP patients, Noël recorded increased CIMT values in patients versus age-matched controls 17. It is pertinent to note that obesity is a confounding factor in a study of XP,18 due to its established association with dyslipidaemia and atherosclerosis, and none of the above studies included body mass index (BMI) matched controls 3 11–15. Metabolic syndrome is a chronic inflammatory state associated with increased mortality due to CVD 19.…”

Management of hyperlipidemias: An update

“…[14] However, only about half of the patients with xanthelasma are hyperlipidemic. [15] The most frequent hyperlipidemia associated with xanthelasma is type IIa. [16] Less frequently, types IIb, III, and IV are found.…”