Triple-combined hypolipidaemic therapy in familial hypercholesterolaemia: clinical cases

Abstract

Background. The prevalence of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) comprises 1 per 250 people. The risk of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) is 20 times higher in HeFH patients among the general population. CVD develops in HeFH patients under 20 years of age, and they usually do not survive to 30 years. Therefore, the primary treatment track here is correction of dyslipidaemia to prevent atherosclerosis progression and CVD. Clinical Case Descriptions. The article describes the clinical cases of familial dyslipidaemia in 47-yo patient M. and his 75-yo mother P. The patient had a visit related to blood pressure (BP) surges up to 140/90 mm Hg. In history: acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in maternal grandfather at 50 years and own uncle at 32 years. The patient’s cardiovascular risk factors: male gender, dyslipidaemia (total cholesterol (TC) 15.8 mmol/L), overweight (body mass index 29.9 kg/m2), familial history of young CVD, sedentary lifestyle (employed as manager), psychological and socioeconomic factors (work-related stress pressure), resting heart rate 88 beats/min. The patient was immediately ordered a combined hypolipidaemic therapy including rosuvastatin 20 mg, ezetimibe 10 mg, telmisartan 40 mg once daily for blood pressure correction. In 1-month therapy, cholesterol dropped to 4.4 mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol – to 2.2, but triglycerides remained high at 3.9 mmol/L. Fenofi brate added to therapy at 145 mg 1 time. Another 1-month therapy allowed the overall reduction of TC to 3.7, LDL cholesterol to 1.9, triglycerides to 2.17 and high-density lipoproteins to 1.19 mmol/L. Past 3 months, a further drop was observed in triglycerides to 1.7 mmol/L. Hence, a triple hypolipidaemic therapy facilitated the target LDL and triglyceride values without involving expensive medications like PCSK9 blockers. The patient’s mother also achieved the target basic lipidogram owing to a triple lipid-lowering therapy.Conclusion. The case is of interest to exemplify a successful triple lipid-lowering therapy in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia.