hypercholesterolemia /-kōles′tərōlē″mē·ə/ [Gk, hyper + chole, bile, stereos, solid, haima, blood] , a condition in which greater-than-normal amounts of cholesterol are present in the blood. High levels of cholesterol and other lipids may lead to the development of atherosclerosis. Hypercholesterolemia may be reduced or prevented by avoiding saturated fats, which are found in red meats, eggs, and dairy products, or by certain medications. Inherited hypercholesterolemia is caused by a defect in the low-density lipoprotein receptor or apolipoprotein B; in such cases diet is a less effective factor. Also spelled hypercholesterolaemia.
