title: Hypertriglyceridemia, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: The importance of high serum cholesterol, especially a high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, as a risk factor for coronary artery disease is well established. Likewise, efficacy for decreasing risk for coronary artery disease by LDL-lowering therapy has recently been documented through clinical trials. However, many high-risk patients manifest elevated serum triglyceride levels, and the role of hypertriglyceridemia in causation of coronary artery disease remains to be elucidated. Nonetheless, there is growing evidence that hypertriglyceridemia is a marker for increased risk for coronary artery disease; in fact, it can serve as a marker for several atherogenic factors. These factors include increased concentrations of atherogenic triglyceride-rich lipoproteins; the atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype, or lipid triad; and the metabolic syndrome. The lipid triad consists of elevated serum triglycerides, small LDL particles, and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The metabolic syndrome includes the coexistence of the lipid triad, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance (plus glucose intolerance), and a prothrombotic state. Many previous studies indicate that hypertriglyceridemia is strongly associated with all of these atherogenic factors. The clinical approach to treatment of patients with hypertriglyceridemia thus requires a broad-based strategy that includes reduction of atherogenic triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, reversal of the lipid triad, and favorable modification of the metabolic syndrome. The development of therapeutic regimens to effect these changes poses a challenge for future research on the problem of hypertriglyceridemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Center for Human Nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 75235-9052, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Grundy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000378:metabolism*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D014280:Triglycerides