CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Hypercholesterolaemia - familial - Management
Additional information
Causes of secondary hypercholesterolaemia
- The following may cause hypercholesterolaemia (without hypertriglyceridaemia):
- Hypothyroidism (see the CKS topic on Hypothyroidism).
- Cholestatic liver disease (such as primary biliary cirrhosis).
- Nephrotic syndrome.
- Cushing's syndrome.
- Drugs:
- Androgens.
- Ciclosporin.
- Anti-retrovirals (protease inhibitors).
- Anorexia nervosa.
- The following may also cause hypercholesterolaemia, but, usually, hypertriglyceridaemia would also be present:
- Diabetes mellitus or obesity (although hypertriglyceridaemia alone is the more common presentation). See the CKS topics on Diabetes - type 2 and Obesity.
- Pregnancy.
- Renal dialysis or advanced renal failure.
- Monoclonal gammopathy.
- Excess alcohol consumption.
- HIV infection.
- Drugs:
- Thiazide diuretics.
- Glucocorticoids.
- Retinoic acid derivatives.
- Beta-blockers.
- Anti-retrovirals (protease inhibitors, nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as stavudine).
[Warrell et al, 2003; Aronson, 2006; Bhatnagar et al, 2008]
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement