title: [Serum triglycerides as a risk factor for atherosclerosis].
abstract: The importance of plasma triglycerides as a risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been controversial for many years. In univariate analysis plasma triglycerides predict CAD in several studies, but this effect is attenuated when high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is included in the analysis. The controversy can be explained by the complexity of lipoprotein metabolism. Plasma triglycerides serve as markers for metabolic and clinical conditions associated with increased CAD risk. Several recent studies shed new light on the significance of triglycerides for the development of CAD, depending on their level in plasma: there appears to be an optimal concentration < 1.1 mmol/l, an intermediate range with increased risk at values 1.1-4 mmol/l, above which level the risk decreases. Very high levels of triglycerides confer increased risk of pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Ziekenhuis, afd. Algemeen Interne Geneeskunde, Nijmegen.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Stalenhoef
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides