Lipid Metabolism Center
Our lipid metabolism center is a highly specialized out-patient facility, which has been treating patients with metabolic disorders for over 20 years.
Metabolic disorders can be a major cause of cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks, strokes and peripheral arterial disease, as well as other life threatening diseases like pancreatitis. The numerous causes and consequences of metabolic disorders require specific diagnostics and individually tailored therapies.
Diagnostic & Treatment Services
Based on the patient’s medical history, a physical examination, and lab tests, a lipid risk profile is compiled for each patient. In addition, we have an innovative, non-invasive device (EndoPAT) which allows doctors to assess the endothelial function (thin layer of cells that line the interior of blood vessels) and detect early stage symptoms such as irregular elasticity in tiny blood vessels.
As our lipid metabolism center is located in the central laboratory of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, our specialists have ready access to various analytical methods, which help to diagnose the nature of the disorder in detail. Not only does our center offer regular measurements of patient cholesterol levels (including triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL)), but we also provide qualitative assessments of lipid metabolism using procedures such as lipid electrophoresis and lipid ultracentrifugation.
These tests play a vital role in determining a patient’s level of low-density lipoproteins (these promote the emergence and progression of atherosclerosis), a patient’s risk of having a metabolic syndrome (obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance) and diabetes mellitus.
Research
Our lipid metabolism center is internationally recognized and has conducted numerous scientific clinical studies, which have been published in renowned journals.
Furthermore, molecular genetic testing conducted at our center has enabled the diagnosis and tailored treatment of congenital lipid metabolic disorders.
Our center both initiates and actively participates in national and international scientific clinical studies relating to metabolic disorders. Moreover, the center’s staff is committed to continued professional development and quality assurance in the field of metabolic disorders thanks to the support of the German National Lipid Association (Lipid-Liga), This commitment results in up-to-date scientific expertise and ultimately better medical care for our patients.
