Impact of the third cholesterol report from the adult treatment panel of the national cholesterol education program on the clinical laboratory.
BACKGROUND
The US National Cholesterol Education Program has recently released the third report of the Adult Treatment Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. Incorporating new evidence and more consistent with other international intervention programs, these more complex guidelines will considerably expand indications for treatment. The implications for clinical laboratories are summarized in this report.


BACKGROUND
LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) remains the major focus for classification and treatment, whereas diabetes, the presence of multiple risk factors, including the metabolic syndrome, and increased triglycerides (TGs), will now require more intensive management. For screening, a fasting lipoprotein profile is recommended, adding LDL-C and TGs to the previous measurements of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C). Lowering the cutpoints defining optimal LDL-C [100 mg/dL (2.58 mmol/L)] and normal TGs [150 mg/dL (1.70 mmol/L)] and raising the cutpoint for low HDL-C to 40 mg/dL (1.03 mmol/L) will select more patients for treatment. A new marker, non-HDL-C, becomes a secondary target in treating high TGs.


CONCLUSIONS
Laboratories will need to adjust reporting formats and interpretations and can expect more requests for tests to characterize secondary causes of dyslipidemia, e.g., diabetes, and for the so-called "emerging risk factors", e.g., lipoprotein(a), homocysteine, and C-reactive protein.
Warnick
G Russell
GR
Pacific Biometrics Research Foundation, 24415 SE 156 St., Issaquah, WA 98027, USA. grwarnick@hotmail.com
Myers
Gary L
GL
Cooper
Gerald R
GR
Rifai
Nader
N
D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards; D005215:Fasting; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012016:Reference Values; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol