Osmosis video - Familial hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant condition in which there are abnormally high levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood. The condition increases a person's risk for heart disease and other serious health problems. FH is caused by defects in one of several genes that control the amount of cholesterol in the blood. People with FH can present with xanthomas (fats build up under the skin), xanthelasma (fats build up in the eyelids), fatty liver, and pancreatitis.