ABSTRACT
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the principal cause of death in the Western world, accounting for about one-third of the total mortality. The probability of developing CHD is increased in the presence of certain risk factors. Since the aim of lipid-lowering therapy is to reduce the risk of CHD, or to delay its onset, any potential drug must be convenient, well-tolerated, effective and safe over long periods of treatment. In addition, it must not interact with drugs used in the treatment of CHD, Blood for lipoprotein analysis is obtained after an overnight fast of 14 h to ensure that triglyceride levels are not elevated by postprandial chylomicronaemia. The effects of drugs on the lipoprotein profile vary according to the abnormality present. For example, the percentage reduction in triglyceride levels achieved by fibrates increases with higher initial levels.
