Advanced Course in Rare Lipid Disorders

While the prevalence of each individual disorder is low, collectively Rare Lipid Disorders are important and the busy specialized practitioner will encounter patients with these conditions. Lipidologists need to be familiar with their diagnosis and treatment as they may be associated with high morbidity and mortality.

To support this, EAS has developed the Advanced Course on Rare Lipid Disorders. The programme focuses on rare genetic conditions such as ß-sitosterolemia, cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis, lysosomal acid lipase deficiency, disorders of high-density lipoprotein, and familial hypocholesterolaemias. The course aims to provide practical guidance on evaluation and treatment, complemented by real-world clinical case examples.

Course structure

This e-learning course consists of two modules, each containing five presentations. Every presentation takes approximately 20–30 minutes to complete and includes multiple-choice questions designed to reinforce key learning objectives. Once you’ve listened to a presentation you will be asked to answer multiple choice questions on it. You need to achieve a score of at least 80% correct to pass.

Language

Presentations are given in English.

Details

Date of preparation: September 23, 2025
Last revised: November 3, 2025
Expiry date: February 2, 2028

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify and explain the key clinical features, biochemical profiles, and genetic foundations of rare lipid disorders, including:
  • ß-sitosterolemia
  • Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis
  • Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency
  • Disorders of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism
  • Familial hypocholesterolaemias
• Distinguish these rare conditions from more common dyslipidaemias using appropriate diagnostic tests and clinical evaluation.
• Interpret and apply relevant laboratory and genetic investigations to support accurate diagnosis.
• Develop evidence-based management plans, incorporating lifestyle changes, pharmacological treatments, and emerging therapies tailored to these disorders.
• Evaluate potential complications and long-term outcomes to guide monitoring and ensure comprehensive, multidisciplinary care.
• Apply theoretical knowledge to practice by analysing and discussing real-world clinical cases for informed diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making.
• Collaborate effectively with national and international lipidology networks to enhance recognition, diagnosis, and management of rare lipid disorders in clinical settings.

This course is designed for clinicians and healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and management of lipid disorders, particularly those working in specialized or referral settings. It is especially relevant for:

• Specialist nurses, dietitians, and other allied health professionals engaged in lipid management teams
• Lipidologists and physicians specializing in metabolic or cardiovascular medicine
• Endocrinologists, internists, and clinical biochemists with an interest in dyslipidemia
• Cardiologists and hepatologists managing patients with complex lipid abnormalities
• Geneticists and laboratory specialists involved in the investigation of inherited metabolic disorders

Advanced Course in Rare Lipid Disorders: Morning session (ELM/2025/00229) & Advanced Course in Rare Lipid Disorders: Afternoon session (ELM/2025/00244) have been accredited by the EACCME®, the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) to provide the following CME activity for medical specialists.

Each medical specialist should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

The EACCME is an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Only those e-learning materials that are displayed on the UEMS-EACCME website have formally been accredited.

Through an agreement between the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA), physicians may convert EACCME credits to an equivalent number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits(TM).

Information on the process to convert EACCME credit to AMA credit can be found at www.ama-assn.org/education/earn-credit-participation-international-activities.

Scientific Directors

Professor Evangelos Liberopoulos, Professor of Medicine – Metabolic Diseases in the School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Professor Kirsten B. Holven, Head of Section of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo and a researcher at the National Advisory Unit on Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH), Oslo University Hospital, Norway