Raising low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is an important target of therapy.

Recent clinical trials in patients with coronary heart disease indicate, for the very first time, that increasing low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol significantly reduces the cumulative occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients whose only lipid abnormality was low HDL with normal levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides. These data provide a compelling scientific basis for a more targeted and segmental approach to managing patients with dyslipidemia, where decreasing elevated levels of LDL cholesterol and increasing low levels of HDL cholesterol should comprise dual targets of pharmacotherapy.