From the SELA President: Horses, Zebras, and Unicorns — Oh My!

The theme of this issue of LipidSpin is “Unusual Causes of Dyslipidemia/Less Common Dyslipidemias.” Topics range from sitosterolemia, to lysosomal acid lipase deficiency, to myositis due to red yeast rice. Although not necessarily rare for many lipidologists, other topics include potential worsening of lipoproteins with a low-carb diet, issues regarding dyslipidemia and antipsychotic medications, and use of niacin-statin combination in lipid management. Finally, this issue includes a well-earned spotlight on Dr. Pamela Morris.

Much of the National Lipid Association’s (NLA) efforts in the past few years have focused on “patient-centered” recommendations and guidance regarding general evaluation and management of dyslipidemia. The NLA’s viewpoint on basic principles of evaluation and treatment of dyslipidemia were, and are included in the NLA Recommendations for Patient- Centered Management of Dyslipidemia – Part 1 and 2. They are also summarized in the National Lipid Association Annual Summary (which was updated in 2016 to include National Lipid Association Recommendations Part 2). While the prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients who are at risk for clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is certainly not rare, educational efforts addressing the more common challenges in evaluating and treating dyslipidemia are important, because many clinicians look toward their local lipidologist for guidance in regard to treating the countless dyslipidemic patients at risk for clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Having said this, it is also equally important that the NLA not lose sight of the importance of educating its members on the more rare causes of dyslipidemia. That is because clinicians also look toward their local lipidologist for help in the evaluation and management of the more rare causes of dyslipidemia, as well as the more nuanced issues that may arise with secondary causes of dyslipidemia, or use of combination lipid-altering drug therapies.

It is with this largely in mind that this issue of LipidSpin is intended to focus on the more unusual or less common dyslipidemias, as well as challenges regarding nutritional interventions, lipid effects of certain concomitant drug use, and insights into what is now the less common use of certain lipid-altering drug combination therapies.