For the purposes of diagnosis and treatment the most convenient classification is that which is based on the type of lipid abnormality (cholesterol, TG, or both).
1. Primary hyperlipidaemias
Hypercholesterolaemia
- Familial
- Polygenic
Hypertriglyceridaemia
- Familial lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency
- Familial apolipoprotein C-II deficiency
- Familial hypertriglyceridaemia
Combined hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia
- Familial combined hyperlipidaemia
- Familial type 3 hyperlipoproteinaemia
2. Secondary hyperlipidaemias
Hypercholesterolaemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Obstructive jaundice
- Acute porphyria
- Growth hormone deficiency
- Drugs: corticosteroids
Hypertriglyceridaemia
- Diabetes mellitus (DM)
- Alcoholism
- Lipodystrophies
- Renal failure
- Oestrogens (pregnancy,oral contraceptives)
- Glycogen storage disease
- Systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE)
- Obesity
- Severe stress
- Thiazides
Combined hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Myelomatosis
- Diabetes mellitus (DM)
- Renal failure
Fredrickson Classification
WHO (Fredrickson) classification of hyperlipidaemias, based on the electrophoeretic pattern of lipoproteins is as follows:
Types /Classification | Seen on Electrophoresis | Which Lipoprotein are increased | Which Lipids increased |
I | Increased chylomicrons zone | Chylomicrons | Triglyceride |
IIa | Increased beta-lipoproteins zone | LDL-c | Cholesterol |
IIb | Increased pre-beta and beta lipoproteins zone | VLDL and IDL-c | Cholesterol and Triglyceride |
III | Beta band is broad in beta band zone | IDL-c | Cholesterol and Triglyceride |
IV | Increased pre-beta lipoprotein zone | VLDL | Triglyceride |
V | Increased pre-beta lipoprotein zone and chylomicrons zone | VLDL and chylomicrons | Cholesterol and Triglyceride |