Hyperlipoproteinemias refer to diseases in which blood lipids are elevated in fasting blood tests. Blood lipids are always bound to so-called lipoproteins – compounds of proteins and fats – because they are not soluble in the blood.
Fasting in this context means that the blood sample was taken at least eight hours after the last meal.
Hyperlipoproteinemias include:
Hypercholesterolemia – pure LDL elevation.
Hyperlipoproteinemia – isolated HDL decrease
Hyperlipoproteinemia – hypertriglyceridemia
Hyperlipoproteinemia – lipoprotein (a)
Lipoproteins are responsible for the uptake of fats from the diet and transport between tissues and the liver and are subdivided as follows.
| Lipoprotein major classes | Task | Components |
| Chylomicrons | Transport of triglycerides from intestine to muscle | Triglycerides ↑cholesterol ↓ |
| VLDL | Transport of triglycerides and cholesterol from the liver to other tissues | Triglycerides ↑cholesterol ↓ |
| IDL | Degradation product of VLDL, further conversion to LDL. | Triglycerides ↑cholesterol ↓ |
| LDL | Transport of cholesterol formed in the body to tissues | Triglycerides ↓cholesterol ↑ |
| HDL | Transport of cholesterol from tissues to the liver with the goal of excretion of cholesterol | Triglycerides ↓cholesterol ↑ |
| Lp(a) | Consists of, among other things, an LDL component; has an influence on several systems such as blood clotting | Triglycerides ↓cholesterol ↑ |
VLDL: very low density lipoproteinsIDL: intermediate density lipoproteinsLDL: low density lipoproteinsHDL: high density lipoproteinsLp(a): lipoprotein (a)