The following symptoms and complaints may indicate hypercholesterolemia (pure LDL elevation):
- Xanthomas (small yellowish-white skin lesions) of the skin and tendons.
- Eruptive xanthomas
- Planar xanthomas of the palms/knees
- Xanthelasma (symmetrical yellowish-white skin lesions on the eyelids and inner corner of the eye; incidence: <10%).
- Arcus lipoides corneae (synonyms: Arcus senilis, gerontoxon, Greisenbogen, Greisenring; annular opacity of the corneal periphery) – before 50 years of age in men / 60 years of age in women; bes. suspicious for hyperlipoproteinemia type II.
- Steatosis hepatis (fatty liver).
- Upper abdominal symptoms
- Angina pectoris (“chest tightness”; sudden onset of pain in the heart area).
- Neurological symptoms of reduced perfusion (reduced blood flow).
- Stenosis sounds of the peripheral and neck arteries.
- Claudication intermittens (German: intermittent claudication; or colloquially, “shop window disease”).
The following symptoms and complaints may indicate primary hyperlipoproteinemia – caused by a genetic defect:
- Arcus lipoides corneae (occur < 50 years of age, is considered an important indication of hypercholesterolemia type II).
- Acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) in childhood, especially if multiple occurrences.
- Hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the liver and spleen).
- Tendinous xanthomas (small yellowish-white skin lesions).
- Xanthelasma
- Pronounced cardiovascular and aortic valve atherosclerosis possible in early childhood (homozygous or combined heterozygous form of familial hypercholesterolemia).
The following symptoms and complaints may indicate secondary hyperlipoproteinemia – in the context of various underlying diseases:
- Tendinous xanthomas (small yellowish-white skin lesions).
- Xanthelasma (symmetrical yellowish-white skin lesions on the eyelids and inner corner of the eye; incidence: <10%).
In most cases, however, hyperlipoproteinemia is not noticed until a routine blood test is performed.
Hypercholesterolemia may be manifested by early atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries):
- Coronary artery disease (CAD): angina pectoris (“chest tightness”; sudden pain in the heart area)/myocardial infarction (heart attack) with a chest pain (chest pain) that usually radiates to the left arm and left lower jaw, dyspnea (shortness of breath), and so on.
- Peripheral circulatory disorders: Claudication intermittens (German: intermittent claudication; or colloquially: “shop window disease”), cold extremities, ischemia pain (circulation-related pain) in the extremities, necrosis (dead tissue).
- Cerebral circulatory disorders: Confusion, transient ischemic attack (TIA; circulatory disorder of the brain causing neurological deficits), cerebral apoplexy (stroke) with deficits/consciousness.
