P76 Carotid Artery Disease in Patients with Newly Diagnosed, Untreated Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients are characterized by markedly elevated LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration, positive family history of hypercholesterolemia and premature vascular complications including carotid artery disease (CAAD). Carotid plaques are associated with atherosclerosis of coronary arteries and might be considered as a useful prognostic marker in coronary events. Sixty-six newly diagnosed, untreated patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (21 males, 45 females, mean age: 54.2 ± 13 years) were enrolled. Serum lipid parameters were measured and documentations on previous carotid artery ultrasound examinations were evaluated. FH was diagnosed using Dutch Lipid Network Criteria. Mean total cholesterol level was 8.19 ± 1.7 mmol/L, mean LDL-C level was 5.94 ± 1.6 mmol/L, while mean HDL-C was 1.65 ± 0.5 mmol/L in FH patients. Median of lipoprotein (a) was 118 mg/dL. Documentation on carotid artery ultrasound examination was available in 25 cases (41.7