1. What are common signs and symptoms of FCS?

The first clinical sign of FCS is often a blood draw that appears “milky” because of the high concentration of triglycerides. The first symptom a patient may experience is severe abdominal pain. Other signs, symptoms and complications include:

• Frequent abdominal and back pain
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Numbness in feet or legs
• Forgetfulness
• Fatigue
• Lipemia retinalis (milky appearance of retinal veins and arteries)
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas)
• Hepatosplenomegaly (swelling of liver and spleen)
• Neurological symptoms (depression, memory loss)
• Xanthomas (fatty deposits in the skin)

2. What tests are done for pancreatitis and how does it affect my triglyceride, amylase and lipase levels?

During a pancreatitis attack, triglyceride, amylase and lipoprotein levels are evaluated by blood and/or urine tests. You may also have an MRI, CT or ultrasound done to check for inflammation of the pancreas.

While it is rare, it has been documented that patients experiencing pancreatitis as a complication of familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) have normal levels of amylase and lipase. It is thought that because triglyceride levels are so high, they interfere with the accuracy of the test. It is critical that you communicate an FCS diagnosis to your healthcare providers during all encounters so the correct diagnosis can be made.

High triglycerides are the third leading cause of pancreatitis, although it is not fully understood how they are related. It may be due to the increased concentration of chylomicrons in the blood. These may trigger inflammation that activates digestive enzymes in the pancreas. However, some people with high triglycerides rarely have pancreatitis; others experience it more frequently. Other causes of pancreatitis include gallstones and excessive alcohol consumption.

3. What are triglycerides? What is a chylomicron?

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood that bodies use for energy. Triglycerides are packaged as chylomicrons. The number of chylomicrons in your blood increases after you’ve eaten and then goes back down as part of the normal digestion process. Chylomicrons are large and bulky, and this design enables travel through the bloodstream.

5. What is the difference between acute, recurrent acute and chronic pancreatitis?

Patients with FCS may be told they have acute, recurrent or chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis occurs suddenly and may result in complications and hospitalizations. Recurrent pancreatitis is when you have repeated attacks of acute pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis also causes sudden and severe pain, but the difference is that the patient may have permanent loss of pancreatic function and organ damage.

6. What range is considered normal for triglycerides? What affects the levels? Can I cheat on my diet if my levels are in check?

Normal triglyceride levels are <1.7 mmol/L (150 mg/dL). Patients with FCS may have severely elevated triglyceride levels, up to 10 mmol/L or more.¹ However people with “normal” triglyceride levels can develop pancreatitis and people with high triglyceride levels may never develop pancreatitis. If you have received an FCS diagnosis, work with your healthcare team to determine the right level for you.

There are many things that can increase triglyceride levels, including:

• Medical conditions: Hypothyroidism, uncontrolled diabetes and others
• Diet: Food high in fat, even healthy fats such as avocados and certain nuts
• Prescription medicines: Commonly prescribed drugs, such as estrogen, beta-blockers (medications for hypertension and heart disease) and some medications for mental illness
• Genetics: There are several genetic disorders that cause the body not to be able to digest fats
• Pregnancy: Triglyceride levels may fluctuate in the 3^rd trimester of pregnancy

It’s very important to avoid alcohol if you have been diagnosed with FCS. Alcohol has been shown to cause triglyceride levels to increase.

Because it is difficult to maintain any diet, but especially an extremely low-fat diet, people with FCS can approach the restrictions as a lifestyle change, not a diet. It is important to not dwell on the bad items, but rather focus on exploring new foods or making a low-fat diet interesting and different. If it’s a lifestyle change, it may be easier to look at taboo food/drink not as something to “indulge” in.

7. There are lots of food options that claim “healthy” fats. Why can’t I eat healthy fats?

The most important and beneficial first step to managing FCS is adhering to a very low-fat lifestyle, which means consuming around 20 grams of fat per day. When you have FCS, the body can’t break down “healthy” or “unhealthy” fats; it’s all the same.

So, what’s safe? Medium Chain Triglyceride oil is a medical food that is easy for the body to digest. While it is derived from coconut and palm oils, the difference is in how it is processed in your body. MCT oil does not increase triglycerides and does not form chylomicrons.

8. Does FCS cause cardiac disease?

High cholesterol with high low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) in particular is a well-known risk factor for heart disease. Even though FCS patients have severely high levels of triglycerides, they do not appear to be at a higher risk for cardiac disease as the relationship between FCS and heart disease is poorly understood. It is thought that the chylomicrons are too large to enter the arteries and they themselves are not atherogenic.

9. Since FCS is genetic and I have received an FCS diagnosis, can other members of my family also have FCS? Should they be tested?

FCS is an autosomal recessive genetic trait, like red hair or blue eyes. That means it can only occur if you inherit a mutated, or “bad,” gene from both parents. If genes inherited from just one parent are “bad”, then you will not show symptoms of FCS.

If both your mother and father are genetic carriers who are not affected by the disease, you have a 25 percent chance of getting the disease. You have a 50 percent chance of being an unaffected genetic carrier and you have a 25 percent of not being affected and not being a carrier.

If you have siblings, they have the same chance that you had to receive both genes, which means that they may or may not have FCS. Therefore, your immediate family, including parents, brothers or sisters, and children, should see a specialist if they have high triglycerides or show other signs and symptoms of FCS.

If you have FCS, there is a chance that any children you have may also have the condition or they will be carriers for the gene. Being a carrier means that they carry a “bad” gene, but will be unaffected. This resource helps explain different levels of risk for autosomal recessive conditions.

Learn more about genetic diseases and how to discuss genetic diseases with your loved ones.