[Coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound examination of a 60-year-old patient with familial HDL deficiency (Tangier disease)].

A 60-year-old homozygous patient with familial high density lipoprotein deficiency (Tangier disease) was examined by coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound because of typical angina pectoris. We found a normal left ventricular function, moderately diffuse coronary sclerosis without stenosis, and no critical stenosis of peripheral arteries. Intravascular ultrasound revealed normal thickness and the three-layer appearance of the arterial intima, media, and adventitia within the peripheral arteries, and showed a single, discrete arteriosclerotic lesion in one iliac artery segment. The lack of severe atherosclerosis was remarkable insofar as massive foam cell formation in reticuloendothelial tissues and the virtually complete absence of circulating HDL is characteristic of Tangier disease and had been previously demonstrated in this patient.