How is familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) diagnosed?

A proper diagnosis helps people with FCS get the care they need.

FCS requires special treatment approaches to keep triglyceride levels low, so a diagnosis confirmed with genetic testing may make a big difference in the care they receive – and the life they live.1,36

A doctor can make an initial diagnosis of FCS based on standard clinical testing and examination, but a genetic test can help confirm a diagnosis.1

Distinctive signs of FCS include8:

  • Extremely high TGs of greater than 880 mg/dL or 10 mmol/l on more than one occasion
  • Blood that appears fatty or milky after it is drawn
  • Severe, sometimes daily, stomach pain that often manifests as back pain

Some healthcare professionals may not know about FCS, leaving many people without the help they need managing it.8,36

Listen as Dr. Michael Davidson, of the University of Chicago School of Medicine, discusses the importance of getting a diagnosis of FCS.

If you have any of the following, talk to your doctor about the possibility of FCS:

  • Triglyceride levels above 880 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) on two or more lipid panels
  • Pancreatitis on more than one occasion or repeated episodes of unexplained, severe abdominal pain
Learn about genetic testing to confirm FCS >