Objective: Despite aggressive reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), there is a residual risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hypertriglyceridemia is known to be associated with increased CVD risk, independently of LDL-C. Triglycerides are one component of the heterogenous class of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TGRLs).
Methods/results: Growing evidence from biology, epidemiology, and genetics supports the contribution of TGRLs to the development of CVD via a number of mechanisms, including through proinflammatory, proapoptotic, and procoagulant pathways.
Conclusion: New genetics-guided pharmacotherapies to reduce levels of triglycerides and TGRLs and thus reduce risk of CVD have been developed and will be discussed here.
Keywords: Cardiovascular disease,; Genetics; Hypertriglyceridemia,; Pharmacotherapy,; Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins,; Triglycerides,.