Dataset Information

HDL cholesterol: reappraisal of its clinical relevance.

ABSTRACT: While several lines of evidence prove that elevated concentrations of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) causally contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and its clinical consequences, high-density lipoproteins are still widely believed to exert atheroprotective effects. Hence, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) is in general still considered as "good cholesterol". Recent research, however, suggests that this might not always be the case and that a fundamental reassessment of the clinical significance of HDL-C is warranted.This review article is based on a selective literature review.In individuals without a history of cardiovascular events, low concentrations of HDL-C are inversely associated with the risk of future cardiovascular events. This relationship may, however, not apply to patients with metabolic disorders or manifest cardiovascular disease. The classical function of HDL is to mobilise cholesterol from extrahepatic tissues for delivery to the liver for excretion. These roles in cholesterol metabolism as well as many other biological functions of HDL particles are dependent on the number as well as protein and lipid composition of HDL particles. They are poorly reflected by the HDL-C concentration. HDL can even exert negative vascular effects, if its composition is pathologically altered. High serum HDL-C is therefore no longer regarded protective. In line with this, recent pharmacological approaches to raise HDL-C concentration have not been able to show reductions of cardiovascular outcomes.In contrast to LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C correlates with cardiovascular risk only in healthy individuals. The calculation of the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C is not useful for all patients. Low HDL-C should prompt examination of additional metabolic and inflammatory pathologies. An increase in HDL-C through lifestyle change (smoking cessation, physical exercise) has positive effects and is recommended. However, HDL-C is currently not a valid target for drug therapy.

SUBMITTER: Marz W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5565659 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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HDL cholesterol: reappraisal of its clinical relevance.

März Winfried W Kleber Marcus E ME Scharnagl Hubert H Speer Timotheus T Zewinger Stephen S Ritsch Andreas A Parhofer Klaus G KG von Eckardstein Arnold A Landmesser Ulf U Laufs Ulrich U

Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society 20170324 9

<h4>Background</h4>While several lines of evidence prove that elevated concentrations of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) causally contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and its clinical consequences, high-density lipoproteins are still widely believed to exert atheroprotective effects. Hence, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) is in general still considered as "good cholesterol". Recent research, however, suggests that this might not always be the case and that a fundamental reassessment of the cl ...[more]

PMID: 28342064

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Project description:AimsThe total cholesterol (TC)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio may carry additional information not available in more commonly used single cholesterol measures. Analysis of discordance between lipid parameters might help assess the impact of such additional information on the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We aimed to investigate the role of the TC/HDL-cholesterol ratio in determining atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk when discordant with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol.MethodsWe studied 14,403 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study participants who were free of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at baseline. TC/HDL-cholesterol discordance with LDL-cholesterol (estimated by the novel Martin/Hopkins method) and non-HDL-cholesterol was assessed at five visits and determined by being at or above the median for each lipid parameter. We constructed Cox proportional hazard models to estimate the risk for incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events associated with each lipid concordance/discordance category using a time-varying approach.ResultsMean age of participants was 54.1 years, 56% women and 25% black. There were 2634 atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events over a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 24.2 (16.0-25.4) years. Among individuals with LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol less than the median, 26% and 21% had discordant TC/HDL-cholesterol at or above the median, respectively. These individuals had a 24% (hazard ratio (HR) 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09, 1.41) and 29% (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.13, 1.46) greater risk of incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, respectively, compared to those with TC/HDL-cholesterol less than the median after multivariable adjustment. In individuals with diabetes with LDL-cholesterol or non-HDL-cholesterol less than the median, discordant TC/HDL-cholesterol at or above the median was more prevalent at 48% and 38%, respectively.ConclusionClinically significant discordance exists between TC/HDL-cholesterol, available from the standard lipid profile, and the routinely used non-HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Such discordance may help inform atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk management, particularly in individuals with diabetes in whom discordance is more common.

Project description:It is unclear whether high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration plays a causal role in atherosclerosis. A more important factor may be HDL cholesterol efflux capacity, the ability of HDL to accept cholesterol from macrophages, which is a key step in reverse cholesterol transport. We investigated the epidemiology of cholesterol efflux capacity and its association with incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease outcomes in a large, multiethnic population cohort.We measured HDL cholesterol level, HDL particle concentration, and cholesterol efflux capacity at baseline in 2924 adults free from cardiovascular disease who were participants in the Dallas Heart Study, a probability-based population sample. The primary end point was atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, defined as a first nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or coronary revascularization or death from cardiovascular causes. The median follow-up period was 9.4 years.In contrast to HDL cholesterol level, which was associated with multiple traditional risk factors and metabolic variables, cholesterol efflux capacity had minimal association with these factors. Baseline HDL cholesterol level was not associated with cardiovascular events in an adjusted analysis (hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 1.99). In a fully adjusted model that included traditional risk factors, HDL cholesterol level, and HDL particle concentration, there was a 67% reduction in cardiovascular risk in the highest quartile of cholesterol efflux capacity versus the lowest quartile (hazard ratio, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.55). Adding cholesterol efflux capacity to traditional risk factors was associated with improvement in discrimination and reclassification indexes.Cholesterol efflux capacity, a new biomarker that characterizes a key step in reverse cholesterol transport, was inversely associated with the incidence of cardiovascular events in a population-based cohort. (Funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and others.).

Dataset Information

HDL cholesterol: reappraisal of its clinical relevance.

Publications

HDL cholesterol: reappraisal of its clinical relevance.

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