Regression of Xanthelasmas With Statin Treatment in a Normolipidemic Patient
Authors: Julieta Lazarte, Robert A. Hegele
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2020)

Letters19 May 2020Regression of Xanthelasmas With Statin Treatment in a Normolipidemic PatientJulieta Lazarte, MSc and Robert A. Hegele, MDJulieta Lazarte, MScSchulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada (J.L., R.A.H.) and Robert A. Hegele, MDSchulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada (J.L., R.A.H.)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L19-0797 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: Xanthelasmas are asymptomatic, benign, yellowish papules or plaques that appear on or around the eyelids; they comprise cholesterol-loaded macrophages and typically develop in adulthood (1). In about half of cases, they are associated with familial hypercholesterolemia; thus, they should trigger lipid profiling (2). In patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, regression of xanthelasmas can occur with lipid-lowering drugs, such as statins (3); alirocumab, a monoclonal antibody against proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (4); or probucol (1), an antioxidant that is used to lower cholesterol levels but is no longer available in North America. Also, in 1 report regression of xanthelasmas occurred ...References1. Laftah Z, Al-Niaimi F. Xanthelasma: an update on treatment modalities. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2018;11:1-6. [PMID: 29731585] doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_56_17 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Defesche JC, Gidding SS, Harada-Shiba M, et al. Familial hypercholesterolaemia. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17093. [PMID: 29219151] doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.93 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Shields CL, Mashayekhi A, Shields JA, et al. Disappearance of eyelid xanthelasma following oral simvastatin (Zocor) [Letter]. Br J Ophthalmol. 2005;89:639-40. [PMID: 15834100] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Civeira F, Perez-Calahorra S, Mateo-Gallego R. Rapid resolution of xanthelasmas after treatment with alirocumab. J Clin Lipidol. 2016;10:1259-61. [PMID: 27678444] doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2016.07.007 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Schmidt HH, Manns MP. Images in hepatology. Regression of xanthelasmas in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis after liver transplantation. J Hepatol. 1998;28:1077. [PMID: 9672187] MedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada (J.L., R.A.H.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L19-0797.This article was published at Annals.org on 18 February 2020. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byDiffuse Planar Xanthoma Involving the Face in a Mask-Like Distribution 19 May 2020Volume 172, Issue 10Page: 701-702KeywordsApolipoproteinsCholesterolDisclosureDrugsDyslipidemiaFamilial hypercholesterolemiaHigh density lipoprotein cholesterolLipidsLow density lipoproteinStatins ePublished: 18 February 2020 Issue Published: 19 May 2020 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2020 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...