A variety of conditions in which there are increased concentrations of lipids in plasma: phospholipids, triacylglycerols, free and esterified cholesterol, or unesterified fatty acids.
The pathological increase of the amount of lipids, or fat, in the blood.
An excess of fat in the blood, characterizing a group of metabolic disorders. The two most important fats circulating in the blood are cholesterol and triglycerides. Raised blood levels of cholesterol predispose to atheroma and coronary artery disease; raised triglycerides predispose to pancreatitis. Six types of hyperlipidaemia have been identified, and diagnosis of the different types depends upon blood tests to identify lipid levels. Some of the hyperlipidaemias are familial, and some are secondary to other diseases such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, nephrotic syndrome and alcoholism.