Xanthelasma palpebrarum and its relation to atherosclerotic risk factors and lipoprotein (a).

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between xanthelasma, atherosclerotic risk factors, and lipoprotein (Lp) (a), and to determine whether xanthelasma may be a cutaneous marker for atherosclerosis.

METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients with xanthelasma and 100 age- and sex-matched patients without xanthelasma, seen during the same time period (controls), were included in this study. The prevalence of cardiac risk factors, the rates of atherosclerotic disease, Framingham risk scores, and Lp (a) levels were compared between the patient groups.

RESULTS: Hyperlipidemia was found to be significantly more common in patients with xanthelasma (P = 0.001); however, the rate of clinically overt cardiovascular disease and future cardiovascular risk, assessed by the Framingham risk score, were similar between the groups. No significant difference was observed in serum Lp (a) levels between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with xanthelasma, no increase was observed in the rate or risk of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, no relationship was found between Lp (a) levels and xanthelasma.