Xanthomas Information - Symptoms and Treatment

Xanthomas are lesions characterized by accumulations of lipid-laden macrophages. Xanthomas can be a reflection of lipid metabolism alteration or a result of local cell dysfunction is a deposition of yellowish cholesterol-rich material in tendons and other body parts in various disease states. Xanthomas are skin lesions caused by the accumulation of fat in macrophage immune cells in the skin and more rarely in the layer of fat under the skin. Xanthomas occur on the eye lids, usually on both sides. They are yellow, soft, and slightly raised bumps. Xanthomas are more common in PBC than in any other liver diseases associated with cholestasis

Causes of Xanthomas

There are various type of disorders in lipid (fat) metabolism which can cause Xanthomas. Xanthomas are associated with a variety of systemic diseases and genetic disorders. Some of the other type of causes for xanthomas are :

1) The cause of xanthomas on eyelid is not known

2) Xanthomas are deposits of fatty materials under the surface of the skin which vary in size from very small to more than 3 inches

3) It may also obecause of some kind of genetic defects or from sme underlying systemic disorder.

4) Eruptive xanthomas are caused by elevated blood triglyceride levels.

Treatment of Xanthomas :

The main goal to treat xanthomas is to control disorders to reduce the development of xanthomas xanthomas can be treated with following measures

1) Surgery or locally destructive modalities can be used to remove xanthomas

2) Eyelid lesions can be treated with topical trichloroacetic acid

3) Treatment of the hyperlipidemia initially consists of diet and lipid-lowering agents such as statins, fibrates, bile acid–binding resins, probucol, or nicotinic acid

4) Treatment of eyelid xanthomas is not necessary. They are usually only treated for cosmetic reasons.

5) Chemotherapy drugs or radiotherapy

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