Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia. New aspects of pathogenesis and diagnosis.

New aspects in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of familial dysbetalipoproteinemia are discussed, including the clarification of the chemical basis of the polymorphism of apoprotein E, the allelic nature of the primary isoforms of the protein, the relationship of the abnormality of apoprotein E to the accumulation of remnant lipoproteins in dysbetalipoproteinemia and in persons carrying the trait for abnormal apoprotein E, and the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia in this disorder. The related clinical features of dysbetalipoproteinemia are included in the discussion.