Pathophysiology and clinical significance of atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype and small dense LDL particles

The last decade was marked by numerous prospective and therapeutic studies, which finally put an end to discussions about the risk and benefits of lowering the level of total serum and LDL cholesterol (1’ 4). At the same time, results of these studies have also pointed to the significant role of mixed hyperlipidaemia as a coronary risk factor, and prompted more careful studies of the metabolism of triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particles. In this way also ended another discussion related to the independent role of hypertriglyceridemia in the development of premature atherosclerosis (5’ 8).