[Assessing the risk of HDL cholesterol].

Low HDL cholesterol levels represent a significant cardiovascular risk factor. HDL not only has a central role in the reverse transport of cholesterol but, independently of this, presumably also has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and endothelium-regulating properties. The reasons for lowered HDL cholesterol levels are manifold (genetic inheritance, life style). Measures with an influence on life style can have a decisive impact on the HDL cholesterol level. Medication-based options are much less well established, and the clinical endpoints less well investigated than the corresponding options for LDL-lowering drug therapies. Among the drugs currently available, niacin has the most pronounced HDL-elevating effect.