Low HDL Cholesterol (Hypoalphalipoproteinemia) Follow-up

Updated: May 21, 2021
  • Author: Vibhuti N Singh, MD, MPH, FACC, FSCAI; Chief Editor: George T Griffing, MD  more...
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Follow-up

Further Inpatient and Outpatient Care

Further inpatient care

Generally, patients with hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HA) are discovered during routine lipid profile testing. Such patients are ambulatory and do not usually require hospitalization or inpatient care.

Inpatient care is usually required for complications arising from accelerated atherosclerosis. In patients with secondary causes of HA, inpatient care may become necessary based on the primary pathology.

Transfer

Patients with hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HA) rarely require transfer, and no specific recommendations are available for this purpose. In patients who are admitted to a health care facility, transfer depends mainly on the underlying condition or on complications of HA or premature atherosclerosis, such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, or hypotension.

Further outpatient care

Provide outpatient care at regular intervals, especially clinical evaluation, lipid profile assessment, and follow-up evaluations for complications (such as coronary heart disease).

Monitor patients frequently to ascertain the effectiveness of medical treatment and to determine whether complications are arising from drug therapy. For example, monitor liver function tests and eye function when treating patients with lipid-lowering agents.

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Inpatient and Outpatient Medications

Inpatient and outpatient medications include the following:

  • Niacin or nicotinic acid

  • Gemfibrozil (Lopid) or fenofibrate (Tricor)

  • Statins

    • Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

    • Simvastatin (Zocor)

    • Pravastatin (Pravachol)

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Deterrence/Prevention

Familial or genetically inheritable forms of HA are not amenable to prevention. Genetic counseling and screening may be applicable in rare cases.

Hypoalphalipoproteinemia resulting from secondary causes can frequently be managed by treating those causes. Examples include quitting smoking and initiating regular physical activity.

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