Tangier Disease

Tangier disease is an inherited disorder characterized by significantly reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) - the 'good cholesterol' - in the blood. Because people with Tangier disease have very low levels of HDL, they have a moderately increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Tangier disease is caused by mutations in the ABCA1 gene. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.