Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia affects a patient’s ability to absorb fat from their diet due to a defect in the ApoB gene. This may result in a number of symptoms similar to ABL, including:

  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Foul smelling or pale colored stool
  • Poor growth and development -may be referred to as ” failure to thrive”
  • Trouble digesting fatty foods

Other possible signs and symptoms

As patients get older other symptoms may develop due in large part to the vitamin deficiencies related to Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia.

  • Poor balance (Ataxia)
  • Vision loss (similar to Retinitis Pigmentosa)
  • Fatty liver
  • Other potential neurological or vision problems

Signs and symptoms doctors can test for

In a clinical setting there are some signals that a child with Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia would exhibit through observation and some simple clinical tests and markers.

  • Acanthocytosis (irregularly shaped red blood cells)
  • Extremely low cholesterol level
  • Extremely low or undetectable level of Vitamin E
  • Extremely low levels of Vitamins A, K, and D
  • Low levels of Triglycerides

Getting a Diagnosis

A diagnosis of Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia typically begins with a clinical examination and tests such as a lipid profile, vitamin level testing, and examining red blood cells under a microscope, looking for an irregular shape (Acanthocytosis). Further tests may include a genetic profile specifically examining the ApoB gene, an intestinal biopsy, an electromyography (EMG), and an ophthalmological eye exam. A detailed family history could also be useful in arriving at a diagnosis

Common Misdiagnoses

Famial Hypobetalipoproteinemia could be misdiagnosed as a number of other conditions including vitamin deficiencies, Celiac Disease, Freidreich’s Ataxia, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Chronic Pancreatitis, or other lipid metabolic disorders.

Possible Treatment Options

Unlike many rare diseases, Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia is treatable. Possible treatments and therapies may include, but are not limited to:

  • Adherence to a very low fat diet
  • Administration of very high doses of Vitamins A, E, K, and possibly D
  • Regular Ophthalmological Exams
  • Electrocardiograms (ECG)
  • Nerve conduction studies

Letters Regarding Vitamin Therapies

Below are letters written by our medical advisory board that can be given to doctors or insurance companies illustrating the need for vitamin therapies in high doses to treat these illnesses.

Published Articles Related To FHBL

Below are some articles published in medical journals and other media relating to FHBL

FHBL On The Web

Below are websites with more information about Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia

Read Patient Stories

Here are some stories about Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia patients and their caregivers.