The impact of gene variants on the thickness and softness of the Achilles tendon in familial hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by high low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, xanthoma of the Achilles tendon (AT), and premature coronary artery disease (CAD). Ultrasonography can assess AT thickness and softness, making it useful for evaluating AT in FH diagnosis. We aimed to clarify whether FH-causative LDLR or PCSK9 variants affect AT thickness or softness. In total, 248 FH and 60 non-familial hypercholesterolemia (non-FH) patients (total: 308) aged ≥30 years were enrolled. Patients with FH were classified according to genotype. AT thickness and elasticity index (EI) as softness were measured by ultrasonography. In FH patients with LDLR variants, AT was significantly thicker and softer than it was in FH patients with PCSK9 variants, FH patients without LDLR or PCSK9 variants, and patients with non-FH. The proportion of patients harboring LDLR variants significantly increased with AT thickness (p = 2.0 × 10−31) and softness (p = 1.4 × 10−18). Among those with AT thickness>8.5 mm and EI