Diagnosing FCS can be challenging.
Clinical scoring can help.
The North American FCS (NAFCS) score is now available to help distinguish FCS from other causes of sHTG on the basis of common clinical and laboratory tests.50
North American Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome (NAFCS) Scoring Calculator50
Intended use: To estimate the likelihood that a patient with hypertriglyceridemia (≥440 mg/dL) has familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) on the basis of clinical and clinical laboratory findings.
Intended for use by practicing clinicians in the United States and Canada.
Appropriate use: Valid only for patients who meet all the following criteria:
- Not pregnant
- ≥1 year old
- Have TG level ≥440 mg/dL
Time required for completion: 15-30 seconds (when required information is readily available)
Background: Developed by a panel of 10 clinicians with expertise in hypertriglyceridemia (HTG), and a patient with FCS. Validated against a registry of patients with genetically confirmed FCS or multifactorial chylomicronemia syndrome (MCS).
This tool is adapted from Hegele RA, et al. J Clin Lipidol. Published online November 13, 2024. doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2024.09.008 and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
NAFCS Patient Score:
100Maximum possible score
60 or moreVery likely FCS
45-59Likely FCS
30-44Possible FCS
<30Unlikely to be FCS, but genetic testing may still be needed
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Development and validation of clinical criteria to identify familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) in North America
Hegele RA, Ahmad Z, Ashraf A, et al. Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 2024
This article has no monetary value.
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ADDITIONAL ALGORITHMS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF FCS
These articles have no monetary value.
Expert panel recommendations and proposal of an “FCS score.”
Moulin P, Dufour R, Averna M, et al. Atherosclerosis. 2018;275:265-272.
Diagnostic algorithm for familial chylomicronemia syndrome
Stroes E, Moulin P, Parhofer KG, et al. Atheroscler Suppl. 2017;23:1-7
Differentiating FCS from MCS
O’DEA LSL, MACDOUGALL J, ALEXANDER VJ, ET AL. J ENDOCR SOC. P, Dufour R, Averna M, et al. Atherosclerosis. 2018;275:265-272.