Hypertriglyceridemia and coronary heart disease risk

Several angiographic-based trials have established that triglyceride remnant particles are associated with progression of coronary stenosis, and a recent prospective study has shown that triglycerides are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), even after adjustment for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The importance of plasma triglycerides in CHD risk must be interpreted within the context of other plasma lipoproteins, as well as the fasting and postprandial triglyceride levels. Recommendations for triglyceride lowering are empiric because of the lack of randomized clinical trial data that evaluate triglyceride-lowering therapies and CHD prevention. This article presents a clinical approach to the management of hypertriglyceridemia.