Yoo et al listed a number of indications for measuring plasma levels of plant sterols. The author is from CHA University in Seongnam, Korea.
Indications for measuring plant sterols in the plasma:
(1) normocholesterolemic xanthomas
(2) hypercholesterolemia with poor response to statins (which inhibit HMG-CoA reductase)
(3) hypercholesterolemia with dramatic response to a low cholesterol diet, bile acid sequestration or inhibitors of cholesterol absorption
(3a) decrease in plasma cholesterol
(3b) regression of xanthomas
(4) unexplained hemolytic anemia with macrothrombocytopenia
Additional indications might include:
(1) monitoring therapy in a patient with sitosterolemia
(2) unexplained premature coronary artery disease in a pediatric patient or young adult
