Contributor: Gordon K. Klintworth
Hypertriglyceridemia is a metabolic disorder in which the serum triglycerides are elevated. It is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. The condition has many causes. It is commonly associated with diabetes mellitus type II. Hypertriglyceridemia is also associated with several genetically determined disorders (hyperlipoproteinemia type IV, combined hyperlipoproteinemia [hyperlipidemia - familial combined], Tangier disease, familial high density lipoprotein deficiency type I, and familial partial lipodystrophy type 2 [lipodystrophy - familial partial type 2]). Some of the latter have mutations in the ABC1 gene (Tangier disease, familial high density lipoprotein deficiency type II). A suscepibility locus for hypertriglyceridemia is present on human chromosome 1 (1q).