The new strategy for modulating dyslipidemia: consideration from updated understanding on high-density lipoprotein

With further researches on blood lipids and atherosclerosis, especially after the conception of "residual cardiovascular risk", high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) becomes a new therapeutic target against atherosclerosis. However, the failure of ILLUMINATE study that was targeted at raising HDL-C level disappointed cardiologists all over the world, which indicates the limitation of HDL-C concentration in representing HDL function. The updated understanding of HDL from "quantity" to "quality" brings a new cut-in point for integrative Chinese and Western medicine in preventing and treating dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. In addition to highlighting statins in directly intervening low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, we should make full use of the superiority of Chinese medicine in overall regulation and individualized treatment to promote the self-healing capacity of the patients, which further regulates abnormity of both concentration and function of the whole blood lipid family to equilibrium. This new strategy for modulating dyslipidemia with mutual complement of advantages from Western and Chinese medicines will no doubt play an important role in future therapies.