CLS Triglyceride Disorders & Management Flashcards

Which dietary modification has the greatest impact on reducing severely elevated triglyceride levels?

Answer: Restricting total dietary fat intake

In severe hypertriglyceridemia, reducing total dietary fat (especially in chylomicronemia syndrome) is the most effective dietary intervention.

What is the Friedewald equation limitation regarding triglycerides when calculating LDL-C?

Answer: It is inaccurate when triglycerides exceed 400 mg/dL

The Friedewald equation (LDL = TC − HDL − TG/5) becomes unreliable when triglycerides exceed 400 mg/dL because the VLDL estimate is inaccurate.

Which genetic disorder is characterized by the accumulation of IDL and causes both hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia with palmar xanthomas?

Answer: Type III hyperlipoproteinemia (familial dysbetalipoproteinemia)

Type III hyperlipoproteinemia (familial dysbetalipoproteinemia) involves ApoE2 homozygosity causing IDL accumulation and characteristic palmar xanthomas.

Which medication class is generally contraindicated in patients with triglycerides >500 mg/dL due to risk of worsening hypertriglyceridemia?

Answer: Estrogen-containing oral contraceptives

Estrogen-containing oral contraceptives stimulate hepatic VLDL production and can dramatically worsen hypertriglyceridemia.

In the REDUCE-IT trial, icosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 4 g/day reduced major cardiovascular events by approximately what percentage in statin-treated patients with elevated triglycerides?

Answer: 25%

REDUCE-IT demonstrated a 25% relative risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events with 4 g/day EPA in statin-treated patients with TG 135–499 mg/dL.

Non-HDL cholesterol is considered a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than LDL-C in patients with elevated triglycerides because it includes which additional atherogenic particles?

Answer: VLDL-C, IDL-C, and Lp(a)

Non-HDL cholesterol captures all atherogenic apoB-containing particles including VLDL-C, IDL-C, and Lp(a), making it more comprehensive in hypertriglyceridemia.