title: Asessing coronary heart disease risk and managing lipids.
abstract: Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and below normal high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). According to clinical guidelines, LDL cholesterol is the primary target for lipid-altering therapy. Many patients who develop CHD have LDL and HDL cholesterol levels that fall within the desirable or low-risk category; consequently, conventional measurements of plasma lipids may not accurately detect high-risk patients. This article discusses the clinical significance of lipoprotein subclasses and methods of measurement. Assessing lipoprotein subclasses provides a more comprehensive and efficacious therapeutic approach compared with the standard lipid profile.
authors.affiliation: Rush Heart Institute, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Ill, USA.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Rosenson
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008074:Lipoproteins