[Revision of Japanese guideline for prevention of CHD based on recent evidences]

A new Japanese guideline for prevention of CHD has been proposed at the symposium of Japanese society of atherosclerosis(JAS) held on June 2001. Although the basic concept dose not change from that of last guideline, the new guideline produces clinical updates as warranted by recent evidences obtained from J-LIT, NIPPON DATA and Hisayama study, which are large-scale epidemiological studies of Japanese. The new guideline updates the existing recommendations for clinical management of high blood cholesterol; the definition level of hypercholesterolemia as > or = 240 mg/dl(LDL-C > or = 160 mg/dl), and the screening level of plasma cholesterol as > or = 220 mg/dl(LDL-C > or = 140 mg/dl). The category B, which was defined as persons with one or more risk factors, is divided into 4 groups in the new guideline according to the number of risk factors, and LDL-C goal is 160 mg/dl for category A, 140 mg/dl for category B1, 120 mg/dl for category B2 and B3, and 100 mg/dl for category B4 and C. The new guideline is still on process.