Although lower HDL levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, therapies to raise HDL levels have failed to reduce cardiovascular events. In this sub-study of the longitudinal Dallas Heart Study, the authors turn their attention from absolute levels of HDL to reverse cholesterol transport in the shape of HDL efflux capacity. This efflux capacity is […]
Tag: HDL
Lipid-related markers improve cardiovascular disease prediction
While the measurement and management of cholesterol forms an integral part of cardiovascular risk management, it has been suggested that risk assessment could be improved by the assessment of various additional lipid-related markers either to supplement or replace traditional cholesterol measurements. The aim of this paper was to determine whether cardiovascular risk prediction could be […]
AIM-HIGH fails to fly
Despite the efficacy of statins in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease a substantial number of patients go on to have further events, even when LDL cholesterol targets are achieved. Consequently, interest has grown in combination therapy approaches and the HDL raising treatment niacin – a drug now over 50 years old – has enjoyed […]
When good cholesterol turns bad
Increasing levels of circulating HDL (“good cholesterol”) has been targeted as an important therapeutic goal in reducing the risk of patients with coronary disease. HDL has been shown to have a variety of potentially beneficial effects including cholesterol efflux from foam cells, promotion of endothelial repair mechanisms and stimulation of the enzyme eNOS to increase […]
HDL function and atherosclerosis
There is a strong inverse relationship between serum levels of HDL and the risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This has fostered the search for pharmacological agents that raise HDL, but while several therapies have shown biochemical benefit – including nicotinic acid, fibrates and CETP inhibitors – there are little convincing data to associate these […]