familial hypercholesterolemia

noun

: an inherited metabolic disorder marked by excess accumulation of LDL cholesterol in the blood resulting especially in atherosclerosis and irregular yellow skin lesions

Examples of familial hypercholesterolemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These diseases include hereditary breast and ovarian cancers, Lynch syndrome and familial hypercholesterolemia, which causes life-threateningly high cholesterol. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

In a second trial, people with a genetic condition called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia — which causes sky-high cholesterol from birth — saw similar reductions. — Anne Thompson, NBC news, 16 July 2026

For example, familial hypercholesterolemia is a condition in which inherited genetic changes cause very high LDL levels regardless of diet. — Alexandria Nyembwe, Health, 16 Mar. 2026

The 10 patients in this Phase 1 trial had heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic disease that causes high levels of bad cholesterol and advanced heart disease. — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 13 Nov. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for familial hypercholesterolemia

• academia
• azotemia
• bacteremia
• hyperaemia
• hyperemia
• hypoxemia
• septicaemia
• septicemia
• thalassaemia
• thalassemia
• tularemia
• anaemia

Medical Definition

familial hypercholesterolemia

noun

: a disorder of lipid metabolism that is caused by defective or absent receptors for LDLs on cell surfaces, that is marked by an increase in blood plasma LDLs and by an accumulation of LDLs in the body (as in connective tissue) resulting in xanthomas, atherosclerosis, and an increased risk of heart attack and coronary artery disease, and that is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait