[Value of determining serum cholesterol levels in patients with coronary heart disease]

Cholesterol synthesis (HMG-CoA reductase) inhibitors have proven their value in preventing cardiovascular events, especially in patients with manifest coronary heart disease. Besides cholesterol lowering a number of effects have been described which may contribute to the beneficial influence of these agents on the process of atherosclerosis. Measurement of serum lipids is still necessary for various reasons, namely, to know the degree of elevation in serum cholesterol and specific disturbances in lipid metabolism, the extent to which serum lipids must be lowered and the compliance with cholesterol lowering therapy.