Hypertriglyceridemia: management of atherogenic dyslipidemia.

Author(s): Bersot T, Haffner S, Harris WS, Kellick KA, Morris CM

Affiliation(s): Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, School of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Publication date & source: 2006-07, J Fam Pract., 55(7):S1-8.

Publication type: Consensus Development Conference

Elevated triglycerides are now considered an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease and continue to be a major risk for acute pancreatitis, especially when levels exceed 1000 mg/dL (SOR: B). Elevated triglycerides are a component of atherogenic dyslipidemia and often signal the presence of other conditions (eg, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus) associated with an increased cardiovascular risk (SOR: A). When evaluating a patient with elevated triglycerides, it is important to be cognizant of all atherogenic lipoproteins to more accurately determine the risk of coronary heart disease (SOR: C). Patients with hypertriglyceridemia should first achieve their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal, followed by their non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal (SOR: C). Fibrates, niacin, and omega-3 acid ethyl esters are highly effective at reducing triglycerides, while statins are considered moderately efficacious (SOR: A).