n. an excess of *triglyceride lipids in the serum, which can be caused by a genetic predisposition with or without a high-fat diet (see also lipoprotein lipase), excessive alcohol intake, or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. The condition can predispose to cardiovascular disease and, in its extreme form, to acute pancreatitis. Lipid-lowering drugs, including *fibrates, are used in treatment.
pl. n. a class of drugs, chemically related to fibric acid, that are capable of reducing concentrations of triglycerides in the blood (see hypertriglyceridaemia); they may also reduce plasma *low-density lipoproteins and they tend to raise the levels of the beneficial *high-density lipoproteins. Fibrates are used for treating hyperlipidaemia; they include *bezafibrate, ciprofibrate, fenofibrate, and *gemfibrozil. Fibrates can have adverse effects on muscle (see myositis).... fibrates
n. a drug used to lower levels of *very low-density lipoproteins in patients with *hypertriglyceridaemia who have not responded to diet, weight reduction, or exercise (see fibrates). Side-effects include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and nausea and vomiting.... gemfibrozil
(hyperlipaemia) n. the presence in the blood of an abnormally high concentration of cholesterol (see hypercholesterolaemia) and/or triglycerides (see hypertriglyceridaemia) in the form of lipoproteins, which predisposes to *atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Familial mixed hyperlipidaemia is an autosomal *dominant condition that occurs in 1 in 200 people and in up to 20% of those with early-onset cardiovascular disease. It is marked by elevation of triglycerides, *low-density lipoprotein, and/or *very low-density lipoprotein coupled with a reduction in *high-density lipoprotein.... hyperlipidaemia
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