Characteristics of Subjects with Very Low Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and the Risk for Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND/AIMS The clinical implications of hypocholesterolemia have not been well studied, although some studies have revealed an association between hypocholesterolemia and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We evaluated the clinical characteristics of subjects with very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and compared the risk for ICH using various clinical parameters. METHODS Using hospital records, we evaluated the clinical characteristics of subjects with LDL-C levels ≤ 40 mg/dL (very low LDL-C group). We also evaluated the risk for ICH in this very low LDL-C group and in subjects with low LDL-C ≤ 70 mg/dL (low LDL-C group). RESULTS Among 34,415 subjects who presented at the laboratory for serum LDL-C measurements, 250 subjects had a very low serum LDL-C level (≤ 40 mg/dL). About half of the subjects were statin users; the very low LDL levels in the other subjects were likely attributable to alcohol consumption or a various chronic illness such as liver disease or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ICH occurred in three subjects with very low LDL-C, all of whom had no history of statin use. ESRD tended to be associated with ICH in subjects with serum LDL-C ≤ 70 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS About 1% of the subjects whose LDL-C was measured in the hospital had a LDL-C level ≤ 40 mg/dL, and about half of these subjects had no history of hypolipidemic therapy. ICH incidence was not related to LDL-C level or statin use.