The complexity of HDL

Plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are inversely associated with coronary artery disease risk in large epidemiologic studies. This rule, however, has many exceptions in individual patients, and evidence suggests that other facets of high-density lipoprotein particle biology not captured by measuring HDL-C levels are responsible for HDL's effects in vivo. This article reviews the evidence for the protective nature of HDL,...