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Lipoproteins and thrombosis: effects of lipid lowering
1Medical Research Council Epidemiology and Medical Care Unit, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
Insights
Hyperlipidemia creates a prethrombotic state through coagulation and platelet disturbances. Lipid-lowering therapies may reduce coronary heart disease risk by improving these factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Hyperlipidemia is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events.
- Coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet function are implicated in this risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prothrombotic state in hyperlipidemia.
- To determine if lipid-lowering therapies can ameliorate these prothrombotic disturbances.
Main Methods:
- Review of evidence on coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet behavior in hyperlipidemia.
- Analysis of studies on the effects of lipid-lowering interventions.
Main Results:
- Hyperlipidemic states exhibit disturbances in coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet behavior.
- Lipid-lowering treatments demonstrate an ability to improve these hemostatic disturbances.
Conclusions:
- The observed hemostatic disturbances in hyperlipidemia contribute to a prethrombotic state.
- Therapeutic lipid reduction may mitigate thrombotic risk, complementing its anti-atherogenic effects.
Abstract:
Evidence continues to accrue for disturbances in coagulation, fibrinolysis and platelet behaviour in hyperlipidaemic states, which together might constitute a prethrombotic state. Lipid lowering by diet or drug therapy appears to ameliorate these disturbances, thus providing one possible mechanism whereby such treatment reduces the risk of coronary heart disease in addition to its effects on atherogenesis.