Is it common to have high HDL with PBC, and what does a drop from 131 to 67 mean?
Yes, high HDL ("good cholesterol") is common with PBC. More than 50 percent of people with PBC have extremely high fat levels in their blood, and PBC may be associated with high levels of HDL specifically.
Between 75 and 95 percent of people Show Full Answer
Is it common to have high HDL with PBC, and what does a drop from 131 to 67 mean?
Yes, high HDL ("good cholesterol") is common with PBC. More than 50 percent of people with PBC have extremely high fat levels in their blood, and PBC may be associated with high levels of HDL specifically.
Between 75 and 95 percent of people with PBC have high cholesterol overall. This happens because damaged bile ducts in PBC reduce bile flow, making it harder for your body to break down and remove cholesterol. At the same time, your liver may produce more cholesterol in response.
Your HDL dropping from 131 to 67 represents a significant change. While this is still above the typical healthy range (40-60 mg/dL for men, 50-60 mg/dL for women), it's worth discussing with your doctor. They may want to run an ApoB-100 test, which is more specific for people with PBC because it accounts for lipoprotein X—a unique form of cholesterol that can appear in PBC and interfere with standard cholesterol tests.
Changes in cholesterol levels could reflect changes in your PBC progression, treatment response, or other factors. Your healthcare team can help determine what this shift means for your specific situation.
March 25
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