Uncommon Cause of Hypertriacylglycerolaemia in a Breastfed Infant

Overview

The authors present the case-history of a 3-month old patient with severe hypertriacylglycerolaemia andhypercholesterolaemia, where the laboratory parameters improved after mother’s breast milk was substituted fordonor’s milk, later for formula. With regard to the mentioned baseline laboratory finding which is typical forhyperlipoproteinaemia type III (dysbetalipoproteinaemia), the authors examined in the patient apo E polymorphism.They found phenotype E4/2 which is rare in the population and implies the presence of a mutant form ofapolipoprotein E, responsible for an abnormal catabolism of lipoprotein plasma particles. To the manifestation ofthe disorder at the patient’s age contributed probably as so far undefined factor in human milk.

Key words:
hypertriacylglycerolaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, dysbetalipoproteinaemia, apolipoprotein E,breastfeeding