Hypertriglyceridemia and Atherosclerosis

Letters1 January 1998Hypertriglyceridemia and AtherosclerosisAndrew L. Avins, MD, MPHAndrew L. Avins, MD, MPHVeterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco; University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine; San Francisco, CA 94121Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-128-1-199801010-00023 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Dr. Ginsberg's recommendations for treatment of hypertriglyceridemia [1] are not supported by currently available evidence. First, Dr. Ginsberg offers potential biochemical rationales for how hypertriglyceridemia could cause atherosclerosis. Such explanations might be true but are an insufficient basis for establishing clinical policy. Second, he correctly notes that the observational data are inconsistent; indeed, most data do not support an independent role for hypertriglyceridemia in this process [2]. Third, he cites the Helsinki Heart Study as the primary clinical trial evidence for lowering triglyceride levels to reduce risk for coronary heart disease. However, analyses from this study showed ...References1. Ginsberg HN. Is hypertriglyceridemia a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease? A simple question with a complicated answer [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 1997; 126:912-4. Google Scholar2. Avins AL, Haber RJ, Hulley SB. The status of hypertriglyceridemia as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Clin Lab Med. 1989; 9:153-68. Google Scholar3. Manninen V, Elo MO, Frick MH, Happa K, Heinonen OP, Heinsalmi P, et al. Lipid alterations and decline in the incidence of coronary heart disease in the Helsinki Heart Study. JAMA. 1988; 260:641-51. Google Scholar4. Garber AM, Avins AL. Triglyceride concentration and coronary heart disease. BMJ. 1995; 310:259-60. Google Scholar5. Physicians' Desk Reference. 49th ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Co.; 1995:1851-4. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco; University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine; San Francisco, CA 94121 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byThe association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio cholesterol ratio and thickened carotid intima-media thickness: A case–control studyPredictors of Plasma Triglyceride Elevation in Patients Participating in a Coronary Atherosclerosis Treatment ProgramCarbohydrate-induced hypertriacylglycerolemia: historical perspective and review of biological mechanisms 1 January 1998Volume 128, Issue 1Page: 74KeywordsAtherosclerosisCoronary heart diseaseDietDrugsHyperlipidemiaLipidsLongitudinal studiesLungsNiacinStatins Issue Published: 1 January 1998 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1998 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...