An update on the first recorded case of familial hypercholesterolaemia: the Charioteer of Delphi

Since my first report that the Charioteer of Delphi, a bronze statue dating to the fifth century BCE, is the earliest representation of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH)1, evidence that his Achilles tendon swellings really are xanthomata has strengthened. Whilst many other bronzes of athletes from the same period were melted down during the vicissitudes of history2, some still exist, such as the Riace Bronzes, the Artemision Bronze, the Boxer at Rest and Ephebe of Marathon or marble copies (a cheaper material at the time), such as Discobolus and Hermes of Praxiteles.

Source: Journal of Clinical Lipidology - May 7, 2023 Category: Lipidology Authors: Paul N. Durrington Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research