Gidding - Figure 18 - Additional issues Text
There are a number of additional issues in management of FH that should be considered.
- Genetic testing is much more common in Europe, and experience says that this helps to confirm diagnosis. However, it is not universally recommended and it is not universally paid for by insurance carriers. Nonetheless, genetic information can occasionally provide valuable information in discriminating children with and without FH, particularly those with borderline LDL levels, and may also give insight into the severity of the mutation.
- It is extremely important not to consider noninvasive imaging for risk stratification in these patients. There is no current role for noninvasive imaging in the management of FH patients, as simply the presence of FH is enough to establish an absolute need to initiate therapy and attempt to achieve risk reduction through hitting target LDL levels.