[Lipids, lipoproteins and atherosclerosis]

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in France: 36.4%. Abnormalities of the metabolism of lipoproteins constitute the major predisposing factor for the development and progression of arterial lesions. These abnormalities are very often genetically linked and their expression is influenced by environmental factors (nutrition, smoking ...). The prevention of cardiovascular diseases is of prime importance and the detection of atherosclerosis risk makes up one of the essential steps to this approach. Detection must be realised as early as possible, for in the cases of metabolic abnormalities, the pathogenicity of the process evolves slowly, without showing outward clinical signs and leads to major long-term damage: myocardial infarction in particular. Measuring total cholesterol and total triglycerides are insufficient, particularly when the values are not extreme, to evaluate atherosclerosis risk; these measurements must be complimented by these of the lipoproteins. Current research allows earlier and more precise biological tests of coronary risk to be envisaged.