New lipoprotein profiles and coronary heart disease. Improving precision of risk.

C ardiologists and clinicians have in general accepted the significance of a raised plasma cholesterol concentration. Doubters notwithstanding, most cardiologists will advise cholesterol-lowering measures if low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels are high, particularly in the presence of other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Most would also agree that risk must be maximally reduced after coronary artery bypass grafting or angioplasty. Clinicians have also come to recognize the need to take into account the concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL).