High-Density Lipoprotein and High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

The relationship between HDL metabolism and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is complex. This chapter focuses on three key aspects reflecting HDL metabolism: HDL cholesterol concentration (HDL-C), HDL particle number (HDL-P), and HDL function. The epidemiology of circulating markers, genetics, and effects of interventions on HDL metabolism will be reviewed, emphasizing data from large population-based cohorts and randomized clinical trials. A specific emphasis is placed on recent findings related to HDL functions such as cholesterol efflux, endothelial nitric oxide, oxidation, and platelet suppression, as well as on recent trials of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors, including torcetrapib, dalcetrapib, evacetrapib, and anacetrapib.