• Klaus G Parhofer and Ulrich Laufs.
• Internal Medicine IV-Großhadern, LMU Hospital, Munich, Germany; Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
• Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2023 Sep 4; 120 (35-36): 582588582-588.

BackgroundThe treatment of dyslipidemias plays a major role in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Proper evaluation of the patient's lipid status is very important for risk assessment and as a guide to treatment.MethodsThis review is based on publications retrieved by a selective search of the literature, including current guidelines.ResultsMeasurement of the plasma concentration of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, calculation of the non-HDL cholesterol concentration, and-on a single occasion-determination of the lipoprotein (a) concentration enable the clinician to quantify the lipid-associated health risk and monitor the effects of treatment. These blood tests can be performed in a non-fasting state except in special situations (particularly, hypertriglyceridemia). The HDL quotient is an obsolete measure. The main goal of treatment is to achieve an LDL-cholesterol level adequate to the patient's cardiovascular risk through lifestyle modification and, if necessary, medication. A high lipoprotein (a) concentration cannot be lowered with orally administered drugs; above all, patients should lower their LDL-cholesterol levels while minimizing all other risk factors.ConclusionMeasurement of the concentration of cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL- and LDL-cholesterol and calculation of the non-HDL-C suffice as a guide to lipid-lowering treatment. The primary therapeutic goal is to lower LDL cholesterol.

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