The Evolving Story of Multifactorial Chylomicronemia Syndrome

Multifactorial chylomicronemia syndrome (MCS or type V hyperlipoproteinemia) is the most frequent cause of severe hypertriglyceridemia and is associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The estimated prevalence of MCS in the North American population is 1:600–1:250 and is increasing due to the increasing prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Differentiating between familial chylomicronemia syndrome and MCS is crucial due to their very different treatments. In recent years, several cohort studies have helped to differentiate these two conditions, and recent evidence suggests that MCS itself is a heterogeneous condition. This mini-review will summarize recent literature on MCS, with a specific focus on the genetic determinants of the metabolic risk and the latest developments concerning the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for these patients. Possible research directions in this field will also be discussed.