Raised HDL May Be Bad News if Inflammation Present

Shelf-life expired? HDL is touted as the "good" cholesterol - more is better. Until now.

A new study has suggested that a raised HDL-cholesterol level, if present in conjunction with a raised C-reactive-protein (CRP) level, may confer increased cardiovascular risk [1]. And that in these patients, reduced cholesteryl-ester-transfer-protein (CETP) activity is associated with even higher risk, giving a potential explanation to the negative findings of the torcetrapib (Pfizer) studies.

The study, published online May 20, 2010 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, was conducted by a group led by Dr James Corsetti (University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY).

Corsetti commented to heartwire : "We found that having a raised HDL together with a raised CRP signifies higher risk of cardiac events. This is not a good combination. This has been hinted at in previous studies, so we specifically looked to see whether we could identify this interaction in a large population group. Our findings are consistent with the thinking that HDL can be proatherogenic in an inflammatory environment."

Still think they have any idea what they are talking about?

Fitness is just about all you can rely on.