Issue 167 Item 9 Low HDL Cholesterol Levels May Impair Endothelial Function

Impaired endothelial function associated with low HDL cholesterol may be an additional, unrecognized mechanism contributing to the increased risk of atherosclerosis.

The findings, published in the August 1st issue of the American Journal of Cardiology, come from Dr. Jeffrey T. Kuvin at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues.

The researchers assessed the link between HDL cholesterol levels and endothelial function in 151 subjects who were being evaluated for coronary artery disease.

Total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol levels as well as triglyceride levels were measured in all subjects. Endothelial function was assessed by measuring flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the brachial artery with ultrasound. Low FMD is indicative of impaired vascular function.
Subjects with an HDL cholesterol level below 40 mg/dL had a significantly lower FMD than those with higher levels (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the HDL cholesterol level was directly related to FMD and, on multivariate analysis, the former was found to be an independent predictor of the latter.

"These data suggest that impaired endothelial function associated with low HDL cholesterol may be an additional, previously unrecognized mechanism contributing to the increased risk of atherosclerosis in these patients," Dr. Kuvin’s team concludes. Am J Cardiol 2003;92:275-279.

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