In Reply: Familial hypercholesterolemia: Clarifications ======================================================= * Nishant P. Shah * Haitham M. Ahmed * W. H. Wilson Tang We thank Dr. Modarressi for bringing up those points, and we are grateful the review was found to be informative.1 We agree that, although tendon xanthomas are pathognomonic for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), xanthelasmas are not. Xanthelasmas are rich cholesterol deposits in the skin of the eyelids that occur in the setting of hypercholesterolemia.2 They are nonspecific, but can be seen in patients with FH because these patients often have extreme hypercholesterolemia. Therefore, we suggest in the article that xanthelasmas could be present in patients with FH as a physical finding, and we specifically state that xanthomas are the pathognomonic lesions. To the same effect, it is also possible to see a patient with FH without xanthomas or xanthelasmas. We also agree with Dr. Modarressi that the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal of less than 55 mg/ dL was based on the 2017 American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology guideline recommendations (reference 66).3 * Copyright © 2020 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved. ## ■ REFERENCES 1. Shah NP, Ahmed HM, Tang WH. Familial hypercholesterolemia: detect, treat, and ask about family. Cleve Clin J Med 2020; 87(2):109–120. doi:10.3949/ccjm.87a.19021 [Abstract/FREE Full Text](http://www.ccjm.org/lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NToiY2Nqb20iO3M6NToicmVzaWQiO3M6ODoiODcvMi8xMDkiO3M6NDoiYXRvbSI7czoyMjoiL2Njam9tLzg3LzYvMzIwLjIuYXRvbSI7fXM6ODoiZnJhZ21lbnQiO3M6MDoiIjt9) 2. Nair PA, Singhai R. Xanthelasma palpebrarum — a brief review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2017; 11:1–5. doi:10.2147/CCID.S130116 [CrossRef](http://www.ccjm.org/lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.2147/CCID.S130116&link_type=DOI) 3. Jellinger PS, Handelsman Y, Rosenblit PD, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology guidelines for management of dyslipidemia and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Endocr Pract 2017; 23(suppl 2):1–87. doi:10.4158/EP171764.APPGL [CrossRef](http://www.ccjm.org/lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.4158/EP171764.APPGL&link_type=DOI) [PubMed](http://www.ccjm.org/lookup/external-ref?access_num=28437620&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fccjom%2F87%2F6%2F320.2.atom)