There is consensus that elevated plasma LDL levels and reduced HDL levels are associated with an increased atherosclerosis risk. The role of hypertriglyceridaemia as a cardiovascular risk factor is more complex. Hypertriglyceridaemia may be a marker for other lipoprotein abnormalities such as increased levels of LDL, the presence of an LDL subclass phenotype B, low levels of HDL, or remnant accumulation. When associated with familial combined hyperlipidaemia, with the small, dense LDL phenotype, and with diabetes mellitus, hypertriglycerdaemia appears also to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk. However, other forms may not be associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
