Adults and children who have familial hypercholesterolemia have very high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in their blood. LDL cholesterol is known as "bad" cholesterol because it can build up in the walls of the arteries, making them hard and narrow. LDL This excess cholesterol is sometimes deposited in certain portions of the skin, some tendons and around the iris of the eyes:  Skin. The most common spots for cholesterol deposits to occur is on the hands, elbows and knees. They also can occur in the skin around the eyes. Tendons. Cholesterol deposits may thicken the Achilles tendon, along with some tendons in the hands. Eyes. High cholesterol levels can cause corneal arcus, a white or gray ring around the iris of the eye. This happens most commonly in older people, but it can occur in younger people who have familial hypercholesterolemia.  Causes Familial hypercholesterolemia is caused by a gene alteration that's passed down from one or both parents. People who have this condition are born with it. This change prevents the body from ridding itself of the type of cholesterol that can build up in the arteries and cause heart disease. Risk factors The risk of familial hypercholesterolemia is higher if one or both of your parents have the gene alteration that causes it. Most people who have the condition receive one affected gene. But in rare cases, a child can get the affected gene from both parents. This can cause a more severe form of the condition. Familial hypercholesterolemia may be more common in certain populations, including:  Ashkenazi Jews Some Lebanese groups French Canadians  Complications People who have familial hypercholesterolemia have a higher risk of heart disease and death at a younger age. Heart attacks may occur before age 50 in men and age 60 in women. The rarer and more severe variety of the condition, if undiagnosed or untreated, can cause death before age 20.                  By Mayo Clinic Staff By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Request an appointment   Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment       Sept. 23, 2021   Print Print  Share on: FacebookTwitter Facebook Twitter Show references Kliegman RM, et al. Defects in metabolism of lipids. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 15, 2021. Goldman L, et al., eds. Disorders of lipid metabolism. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 15, 2021. Familial hypercholesterolemia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/fh/FH.htm. Accessed July 15, 2021. Inheriting issues with cholesterol. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh. Accessed July 15, 2021. AskMayoExpert. Familial hypercholesterolemia. Mayo Clinic; 2020. Rosenson RS, et al. Familial hypercholesterolemia in adults: Overview. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021. De Ferranti SD. Familial hypercholesterolemia in children. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021. Blood cholesterol. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-cholesterol. Accessed July 15, 2021. Rosenson RS, et al. Familial hypercholesterolemia in adults: Treatment. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021.  Show references  Kliegman RM, et al. Defects in metabolism of lipids. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 15, 2021. Goldman L, et al., eds. Disorders of lipid metabolism. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 15, 2021. Familial hypercholesterolemia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/fh/FH.htm. Accessed July 15, 2021. Inheriting issues with cholesterol. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh. Accessed July 15, 2021. AskMayoExpert. Familial hypercholesterolemia. Mayo Clinic; 2020. Rosenson RS, et al. Familial hypercholesterolemia in adults: Overview. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021. De Ferranti SD. Familial hypercholesterolemia in children. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021. Blood cholesterol. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-cholesterol. Accessed July 15, 2021. Rosenson RS, et al. Familial hypercholesterolemia in adults: Treatment. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021.   Kliegman RM, et al. Defects in metabolism of lipids. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 15, 2021. Goldman L, et al., eds. Disorders of lipid metabolism. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 15, 2021. Familial hypercholesterolemia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/fh/FH.htm. Accessed July 15, 2021. Inheriting issues with cholesterol. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh. Accessed July 15, 2021. AskMayoExpert. Familial hypercholesterolemia. Mayo Clinic; 2020. Rosenson RS, et al. Familial hypercholesterolemia in adults: Overview. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021. De Ferranti SD. Familial hypercholesterolemia in children. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021. Blood cholesterol. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-cholesterol. Accessed July 15, 2021. Rosenson RS, et al. Familial hypercholesterolemia in adults: Treatment. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021.  Kliegman RM, et al. Defects in metabolism of lipids. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 15, 2021. Goldman L, et al., eds. Disorders of lipid metabolism. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 15, 2021. Familial hypercholesterolemia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/fh/FH.htm. Accessed July 15, 2021. Inheriting issues with cholesterol. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh. Accessed July 15, 2021. AskMayoExpert. Familial hypercholesterolemia. Mayo Clinic; 2020. Rosenson RS, et al. Familial hypercholesterolemia in adults: Overview. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021. De Ferranti SD. Familial hypercholesterolemia in children. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021. Blood cholesterol. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-cholesterol. Accessed July 15, 2021. Rosenson RS, et al. Familial hypercholesterolemia in adults: Treatment. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 15, 2021.  Familial hypercholesterolemiaSymptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatmentDoctors & departments  Familial hypercholesterolemia Symptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatmentDoctors & departments
adults children who familial hypercholesterolemia high levels low-density lipoprotein (ldl) cholesterol blood  ldl cholesterol known "bad" cholesterol can build walls arteries  making hard narrow  ldl excess cholesterol deposited portions skin  tendons iris eyes:  skin  common spots cholesterol deposits occur hands  elbows knees  can occur skin eyes  tendons  cholesterol deposits may thicken achilles tendon  tendons hands  eyes  high cholesterol levels can cause corneal arcus  white gray ring iris eye  happens commonly older people  can occur younger people who familial hypercholesterolemia   causes familial hypercholesterolemia caused gene alteration that's passed down parents  people who condition born it  change prevents body ridding type cholesterol can build arteries cause heart disease  risk factors risk familial hypercholesterolemia higher parents gene alteration causes it  people who condition receive affected gene  rare cases  child can affected gene parents  can cause severe form condition  familial hypercholesterolemia may common populations  including:  ashkenazi jews lebanese groups french canadians  complications people who familial hypercholesterolemia higher risk heart disease death younger age  heart attacks may occur age 50 men age 60 women  rarer severe variety condition  undiagnosed untreated  can cause death age 20                   mayo clinic staff mayo clinic staff request appointment request appointment   diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment       sept  23  2021   print print  share on: facebooktwitter facebook twitter show references kliegman rm  al  defects metabolism lipids  in: nelson textbook pediatrics  21st ed  elsevier; 2020  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 15  2021  goldman l  al  eds  disorders lipid metabolism  in: goldman-cecil medicine  26th ed  elsevier; 2020  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 15  2021  familial hypercholesterolemia  centers disease control prevention  https://www cdc gov/genomics/disease/fh/fh htm  accessed july 15  2021  inheriting issues cholesterol  american heart association  https://www heart org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh  accessed july 15  2021  askmayoexpert  familial hypercholesterolemia  mayo clinic; 2020  rosenson rs  al  familial hypercholesterolemia adults: overview  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021  de ferranti sd  familial hypercholesterolemia children  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021  blood cholesterol  national heart  lung  blood institute  https://www nhlbi nih gov/health-topics/blood-cholesterol  accessed july 15  2021  rosenson rs  al  familial hypercholesterolemia adults: treatment  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021   show references  kliegman rm  al  defects metabolism lipids  in: nelson textbook pediatrics  21st ed  elsevier; 2020  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 15  2021  goldman l  al  eds  disorders lipid metabolism  in: goldman-cecil medicine  26th ed  elsevier; 2020  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 15  2021  familial hypercholesterolemia  centers disease control prevention  https://www cdc gov/genomics/disease/fh/fh htm  accessed july 15  2021  inheriting issues cholesterol  american heart association  https://www heart org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh  accessed july 15  2021  askmayoexpert  familial hypercholesterolemia  mayo clinic; 2020  rosenson rs  al  familial hypercholesterolemia adults: overview  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021  de ferranti sd  familial hypercholesterolemia children  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021  blood cholesterol  national heart  lung  blood institute  https://www nhlbi nih gov/health-topics/blood-cholesterol  accessed july 15  2021  rosenson rs  al  familial hypercholesterolemia adults: treatment  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021    kliegman rm  al  defects metabolism lipids  in: nelson textbook pediatrics  21st ed  elsevier; 2020  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 15  2021  goldman l  al  eds  disorders lipid metabolism  in: goldman-cecil medicine  26th ed  elsevier; 2020  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 15  2021  familial hypercholesterolemia  centers disease control prevention  https://www cdc gov/genomics/disease/fh/fh htm  accessed july 15  2021  inheriting issues cholesterol  american heart association  https://www heart org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh  accessed july 15  2021  askmayoexpert  familial hypercholesterolemia  mayo clinic; 2020  rosenson rs  al  familial hypercholesterolemia adults: overview  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021  de ferranti sd  familial hypercholesterolemia children  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021  blood cholesterol  national heart  lung  blood institute  https://www nhlbi nih gov/health-topics/blood-cholesterol  accessed july 15  2021  rosenson rs  al  familial hypercholesterolemia adults: treatment  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021   kliegman rm  al  defects metabolism lipids  in: nelson textbook pediatrics  21st ed  elsevier; 2020  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 15  2021  goldman l  al  eds  disorders lipid metabolism  in: goldman-cecil medicine  26th ed  elsevier; 2020  https://www clinicalkey com  accessed july 15  2021  familial hypercholesterolemia  centers disease control prevention  https://www cdc gov/genomics/disease/fh/fh htm  accessed july 15  2021  inheriting issues cholesterol  american heart association  https://www heart org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/causes-of-high-cholesterol/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh  accessed july 15  2021  askmayoexpert  familial hypercholesterolemia  mayo clinic; 2020  rosenson rs  al  familial hypercholesterolemia adults: overview  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021  de ferranti sd  familial hypercholesterolemia children  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021  blood cholesterol  national heart  lung  blood institute  https://www nhlbi nih gov/health-topics/blood-cholesterol  accessed july 15  2021  rosenson rs  al  familial hypercholesterolemia adults: treatment  https://www uptodate com/contents/search  accessed july 15  2021   familial hypercholesterolemiasymptoms & causesdiagnosis & treatmentdoctors & departments  familial hypercholesterolemia symptoms & causesdiagnosis & treatmentdoctors & departments
familial hypercholesterolemia