Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) Screen Blood Test - NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Familial hypercholesterolemia alters the way cholesterol is stored in the body. As a result, individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia have an elevated risk of heart disease and a higher risk of an early heart attack.  This disease is present from birth.  Treatments such as medicines and healthy lifestyle habits can help reduce the risk.  

There could be no signs in the early years.  When symptoms do occur, they might include:

• Sores on the toes that will not heal
• There may be chest pain (angina) or other signs of coronary artery disease at a young age.
• Fatty deposits of skin called xanthomas over sections of the wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and around the eye cornea
• Cramping of one or both calves when walking
• Cholesterol deposits in the eyelids
• Sudden stroke-like symptoms such as drooping on one side of the face, weakness of an arm or leg, trouble speaking, and loss of balance

Test includes Cholesterol, total; high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol; non-HDL cholesterol (calculation); LDL cholesterol direct.