Bourbon, M.Rato, Q.Investigadores do Estudo Português de Hipercolesterolemia Familiar2011-11-302011-11-302006-11-06Rev Port Cardiol. 2006 Nov;25(11):999-1013.0870-2551http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/325Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused, in the majority of cases, by a partial or total lack of functional low density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR). Mutations in the LDLR gene lead to increased plasma cholesterol levels, resulting in cholesterol deposition in the arteries, thereby increasing the risk of premature coronary heart disease. The homozygous form of FH is rare but heterozygous FH is common, although underdiagnosed in many populations, including the Portuguese. In 1999 the Portuguese Familial Hypercholesterolemia Study was begun at the National Institute of Health.porFamilial hypercholesterolemiaGenetic diagnosisLow-density lipoprotein receptorMutationCoronary heart diseaseIndex caseDoenças Cardio e Cérebro-vascularesjournal article