[The role of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle in atherogenesis and potential methods to increase HDL concentrations].

The concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has a strong inverse relationship to the incidence of cardiovascular disease. The protective effect of HDL cholesterol is due not only to its promotion of reverse cholesterol transport from the vascular wall to the liver, but also to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and antithrombotic effects. Patients with low HDL cholesterol concentrations are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and may be considered for treatment with lipid-lowering drugs, such as statins, niacin and fibrates. Currently, only a limited number of HDL-increasing agents have demonstrated beneficial effects of increasing HDL in studies with intermediary endpoints. Among these drugs are apolipoprotein A-1 variants, inhibitors of the cholesterol ester transfer protein JTT-705 and torcetrapib.