Pablo Corral: Key Take‑Home Messages on Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Pablo Corral, Pharmacology Professor at FASTA University, Past President of Argentine Lipid Society, shared a post on LinkedIn about a recent article by Zahid Ahmad et al. published in Journal of Clinical Lipidology, adding:
“Update on familial hypercholesterolemia: An expert clinical consensus from the National Lipid Association
- FH is common (approx.1:311) and systematically underdiagnosed therefore the real problem is not rarity, it is detection
- Driven by lifelong LDL-C exposure, not a single value therefore risk equals LDL-C multiplied by time
- Genetics help, but phenotype rules therefore treat based on LDL-C burden, not just mutations
Diagnosis
- LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL (adults) indicates FH, but confirm clinically
- Genetic testing: useful for cascade screening, not mandatory
- Always exclude secondary causes before labeling
Screening
- Universal pediatric screening (9–11 yrs) is not optional- it’s delayed prevention
- Cascade screening represents the highest yield strategy (and still underused)
Risk
Standard risk calculators?
Useless in FH consequently they underestimate risk
Risk depends on:
- Lifetime LDL exposure
- Lp(a)
- Family history
- Timing of treatment
Treatment (no shortcuts)
Lifelong, early, aggressive
Targets:
- less than 55 mg/dL (secondary prevention)
- less than 70 mg/dL (primary prevention)
Start with:
- High-intensity statin, ezetimibe, PCSK9i / others as needed
- More than or equal to 50% LDL reduction is the floor, not the goal
Take-home
- FH is not a lipid disorder.
- It’s a time-dependent vascular disease.
- Diagnose early, treat hard, treat forever.”
Title: Update on familial hypercholesterolemia: An expert clinical consensus from the National Lipid Association
Authors: Zahid Ahmad, Anandita Agarwala, Marina Cuchel, P. Barton Duell, Robert A. Hegele, Lisa Hudgins, Allison Jamison, Dinesh Kalra, Amit Khera, Joshua W. Knowles, Iftikhar J. Kullo, Ana Morales, Mark A. Rothstein, Joseph J. Saseen, Daniel E. Soffer, Bruce A. Warden, William S. Weintraub, Lauren Williams, Anne C. Goldberg

Stay updated on all scientific advances with Hemostasis Today.
-
Sep 12, 2026, 17:55Dries De Wolf: Honored to Have Wolfgang Miesbach Comment on Our Latest Research
-
Sep 12, 2026, 17:53Usman Waheed: Introducing the Discovery of the 49th ISBT Blood Group System
-
Sep 12, 2026, 17:51Maria Sabater Lleal: Happy to Share Our Latest Work Exploring the Genetic Determinants of PE in VTE
-
Sep 12, 2026, 17:51Jeff Sternlicht: Why LDL-C and ApoB Remain King of the Hill?
-
Sep 12, 2026, 17:49Kalyan Roy: TRAGS – An Emerging Transfusion Safety Concern
-
Sep 12, 2026, 17:48Jason Fung: What Happened to “Statins Save Lives”?
-
Sep 12, 2026, 17:47Eric Topol: Most Supplements and Vitamins Offer Little Proven Benefit
-
Sep 12, 2026, 17:44Manuel Monreal: Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, and Outcomes in Hispanic vs Caucasian Patients With VTE
-
Sep 12, 2026, 17:43Sidi Mohamed El Amine Benlazar: CPX-351 and Ruxolitinib in Advanced-Phase Myeloproliferative Neoplasms