Abstract
Accurate lipid and lipoprotein measurements, control of pre-analytical factors and consideration of biological variability are required for the reliable assessment of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and the management of dyslipidaemia. Inclusion of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, in addition to total cholesterol, in risk calculations is preferred to attain good sensitivity and specificity. Although the strong and independent association of triglyceride with CHD has been confirmed, its large biological variation limits its utility as a risk factor or primary treatment target. A fasting profile including triglyceride is essential however for consideration of genetic and secondary causes of dyslipidaemia and decisions on therapeutic intervention.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
