The measurement of plasma triglyceride levels further refines the estimation of the risk of coronary heart disease in patients with either high levels of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol or a high ratio of low-density-lipoprotein to high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Plausible mechanisms underlying the role of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease include the lipid loading of macrophages and accelerated thrombosis resulting from increases in both procoagulant and antifibrinolytic activity. Further research should include methods for better quantifying atherogenic subspecies of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and intervention studies designed to assess the effect on the occurrence of coronary heart disease of lowering triglyceride or increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.
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