Primary hypocholesterolemia is associated with an increased risk of hepatic complications in the general population

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved..

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Beyond cardiovascular disease protection, the health consequences of very low concentrations of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) remain a matter of debate. In primary hypobetalipoproteinemia (HBL), liver steatosis and cirrhosis have occasionally been reported. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between HBL and the risk of hepatic complications (cirrhosis complications and/or primary liver cancer) in the general population.

METHODS: A cohort study was conducted in the French population-based cohort CONSTANCES. Participants with primary HBL (LDL-C <5th percentile for age and sex, [HBL]) were compared with those with normal LDL-C concentrations (40th-60th percentile, [Control]). Participants on lipid-lowering therapies were excluded. For hepatic complications, follow-up events were compared by calculating the incidence density ratio (IDR). The same analyses were replicated in the UK Biobank (UKBB) cohort.

RESULTS: In the CONSTANCES and UKBB cohorts, 34,653 and 94,666 patients were analyzed, with median ages of 45 and 56 years, mean LDL-C concentrations (HBL vs. control) of 71 vs. 128 mg/dl and 86 vs. 142 mg/dl, and mean follow-up durations of 5.0 and 11.5 years, respectively. The HBL group presented a higher incidence of hepatic complications than the control group: 0.32/ vs. 0.07/1,000 person-years (IDR = 4.50, 95% CI 1.91-10.6) in CONSTANCES, and 0.69/ vs. 0.21/1,000 person-years (IDR = 3.27, 95% CI 2.63-4.06) in the UKBB. This risk proved to be independent of classic risk factors for liver disease (obesity, alcohol consumption, diabetes, viral hepatitis), including in a 5-year landmark analysis excluding early events. Sensitivity analyses based on apoliprotein-B levels (instead of LDL-C levels) or genetically defined HBL showed similar results.

CONCLUSIONS: HBL is associated with a markedly increased risk of hepatic complications. HBL must be considered as a substantial independent risk factor for liver diseases which justifies specific prevention and screening.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Hypobetalipoproteinemia (HBL) is a lipid disorder characterized by permanent, inherited low levels (below the 5th percentile) of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. While HBL is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events, some studies suggest that it may be associated with a potential risk of hepatic steatosis and hepatic complications. Here, we studied the association between HBL and hepatic complications (defined as cirrhosis complications and/or primary liver cancer) in two populations of several hundred thousand people, both in France (CONSTANCES cohort) and the United Kingdom (UKBB). The results show that HBL is associated with a significant and independent excess risk of hepatic complications, including primary liver cancer. Thus, in people with HBL, the value of regular liver monitoring must be studied.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - year:2024

Enthalten in:

Journal of hepatology - (2024) vom: 06. Feb.

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Wargny, Matthieu [VerfasserIn]
Goronflot, Thomas [VerfasserIn]
Rimbert, Antoine [VerfasserIn]
Boursier, Jérôme [VerfasserIn]
Kab, Sofiane [VerfasserIn]
Henny, Joseph [VerfasserIn]
Lainé, Antoine [VerfasserIn]
Leux, Christophe [VerfasserIn]
Smati, Sarra [VerfasserIn]
Hadjadj, Samy [VerfasserIn]
Le May, Cédric [VerfasserIn]
Goldberg, Marcel [VerfasserIn]
Zins, Marie [VerfasserIn]
Cariou, Bertrand [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Administrative health records
Cirrhosis
Hypobetalipoproteinemia
Journal Article
Liver cancer
Low-density lipoprotein
Population-based cohorts

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 22.03.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status Publisher

doi:

10.1016/j.jhep.2024.01.030

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM368208109