Biomaterial Database

Sonographic detection of xanthomas in normal-sized Achilles' tendons of individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. 1998

R O Bude, and S D Nesbitt, and R S Adler, and M Rubenfire

Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Taubman Center 2910K, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0326, USA.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate how well high-frequency linear array sonography reveals xanthomas in the Achilles' tendons of individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia before the xanthomas enlarge the tendons enough to become palpable. METHODS Both Achilles' tendons of 23 individuals (18 female and five male; age range, 16-69 years old) who had heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia but no clinically apparent Achilles' tendon xanthomas were studied with high-frequency linear array sonography. Hypoechoic areas, consistent with xanthomas, were noted. RESULTS Xanthomas were revealed in 36 (78%) of 46 tendons and 19 (83%) of 23 individuals. CONCLUSIONS Sonography reveals Achilles' tendon xanthomas in many individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia before the xanthomas are clinically apparent. Because tendon xanthomas in a hypercholesterolemic individual are essentially pathognomonic of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and are a mainstay in its diagnosis, our study suggests that sonography is useful in the early diagnosis of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009135	Muscular Diseases	Acquired, familial, and congenital disorders of SKELETAL MUSCLE and SMOOTH MUSCLE.	Muscle Disorders,Myopathies,Myopathic Conditions,Muscle Disorder,Muscular Disease,Myopathic Condition,Myopathy
D005260	Female		Females
D006579	Heterozygote	An individual having different alleles at one or more loci regarding a specific character.	Carriers, Genetic,Genetic Carriers,Carrier, Genetic,Genetic Carrier,Heterozygotes
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006938	Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II	A group of familial disorders characterized by elevated circulating cholesterol contained in either LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS alone or also in VERY-LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS (pre-beta lipoproteins).	Hyperbetalipoproteinemia,Hypercholesterolemia, Essential,Hypercholesterolemia, Familial,Apolipoprotein B-100, Familial Defective,Apolipoprotein B-100, Familial Ligand-Defective,Familial Combined Hyperlipoproteinemia,Hyper-Low Density Lipoproteinemia,Hyper-Low-Density-Lipoproteinemia,Hyper-beta-Lipoproteinemia,Hypercholesterolemia, Autosomal Dominant,Hypercholesterolemia, Autosomal Dominant, Type B,Hypercholesterolemic Xanthomatosis, Familial,Hyperlipoproteinemia Type 2,Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa,Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIb,Hyperlipoproteinemia, Type II,Hyperlipoproteinemia, Type IIa,LDL Receptor Disorder,Apolipoprotein B 100, Familial Defective,Apolipoprotein B 100, Familial Ligand Defective,Autosomal Dominant Hypercholesterolemia,Autosomal Dominant Hypercholesterolemias,Combined Hyperlipoproteinemia, Familial,Combined Hyperlipoproteinemias, Familial,Density Lipoproteinemia, Hyper-Low,Density Lipoproteinemias, Hyper-Low,Disorder, LDL Receptor,Disorders, LDL Receptor,Dominant Hypercholesterolemia, Autosomal,Dominant Hypercholesterolemias, Autosomal,Essential Hypercholesterolemia,Essential Hypercholesterolemias,Familial Combined Hyperlipoproteinemias,Familial Hypercholesterolemia,Familial Hypercholesterolemias,Familial Hypercholesterolemic Xanthomatoses,Familial Hypercholesterolemic Xanthomatosis,Hyper Low Density Lipoproteinemia,Hyper beta Lipoproteinemia,Hyper-Low Density Lipoproteinemias,Hyper-Low-Density-Lipoproteinemias,Hyper-beta-Lipoproteinemias,Hyperbetalipoproteinemias,Hypercholesterolemias, Autosomal Dominant,Hypercholesterolemias, Essential,Hypercholesterolemias, Familial,Hypercholesterolemic Xanthomatoses, Familial,Hyperlipoproteinemia Type 2s,Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIas,Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIbs,Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIs,Hyperlipoproteinemia, Familial Combined,Hyperlipoproteinemias, Familial Combined,Hyperlipoproteinemias, Type II,Hyperlipoproteinemias, Type IIa,LDL Receptor Disorders,Lipoproteinemia, Hyper-Low Density,Lipoproteinemias, Hyper-Low Density,Receptor Disorder, LDL,Receptor Disorders, LDL,Type 2, Hyperlipoproteinemia,Type II Hyperlipoproteinemia,Type II Hyperlipoproteinemias,Type IIa Hyperlipoproteinemia,Type IIa Hyperlipoproteinemias,Xanthomatoses, Familial Hypercholesterolemic,Xanthomatosis, Familial Hypercholesterolemic
D000125	Achilles Tendon	Tendon that connects the muscles in the back of the calf to the HEEL BONE.	Calcaneal Tendon,Tendo Calcaneus,Calcaneal Tendons,Tendon, Achilles,Tendon, Calcaneal,Tendons, Calcaneal
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults