title: Lipids and risk assessment.
abstract: Because a standard lipid panel can misrepresent lipoprotein abnormalities that contribute to atherosclerosis, more detailed laboratory analysis should be considered in a patient whose level of risk is unclear. This is especially important for patients who have a family history of premature coronary heart disease of uncertain etiology. Such testing is analogous to performing a more advanced imaging procedure when a plain x-ray lacks the sensitivity to define an anatomic derangement. In selected situations, measuring apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein (a), low-density lipoprotein, or high-density lipoprotein subfractions, or homocysteine can markedly clarify cardiovascular risk. This review describes seven men, themselves cardiologists, who had misinterpreted their own risk based on conventional lipid tests. With further evaluation, one of these men was reassured that he had lower risk than he had feared. Six of the men had greater risk than previously recognized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California 94301, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Linde
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL