Type III hyperlipoproteinaemia in a Black patient. A case report

A Black male aged 55 years presented with xanthomatosis on the elbows, buttocks and knees. The fasting serum cholesterol (10.62 mmol/l) and triglyceride levels (8.85 mmol/l) were elevated. The refrigerator test revealed a diffuse lactescence with a faint chylomicron layer. The very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels were also elevated, with a VLDL cholesterol-to-VLDL triglyceride ratio of 0.37 and a VLDL cholesterol-to-serum triglyceride ratio of 0.45. Electrophoresis of the serum revealed a broad β-band and the VLDL isolated exhibited β mobility. After exclusion of secondary causes a diagnosis of primary type III hyperlipoproteinaemia was made.