[Screening and therapy control of lipid metabolism disturbances in general practice (author's transl)]

The determination of total cholesterol and triglycerides in fasting serum is the basic program for routine diagnosis and therapy control of lipid metabolic defects. With the introduction of routine determination of HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol into the laboratory of the general practitioner, differential diagnosis of lipid metabolism disorders and therefore an improved recognition of the coronary risk becomes possible. The combination of hypertriglyceridemia and a low HDL-cholesterol as a possible indicator of diminished intravascular lipolysis is especially significant for the recognition of individual risks. The indications for the diagnosis and therapeutic control of hyperlipidemia as well as the value of the lipid parameters for the prediction and early diagnosis of coronary heart disease is discussed.