Raising an isolated low HDL-C level: why, how, and when?

Treating patients with isolated low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) remains daunting. The decision to treat depends on the individual patient's overall risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). Strategies for raising HDL-C levels can include various lifestyle and drug therapies, which should be tailored to individual patients. While no current therapy is optimal, many can yield modest increases that translate into reduced risk for CHD events.