Appraisal of myeloperoxidase for evaluation of patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes.

he pivotal role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-C) in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its schemic complications are well established. Epidemiologic tudies demonstrate a linear relationship between levels of DL-C and the prospective risk of cardiovascular events 1). In animal models, the administration of cholesterol ncreases levels of LDL-C and promotes the formation of esions (2). As a result, considerable effort has been devoted o the development of therapeutic strategies that lower levels f LDL-C to reduce cardiovascular risk. The finding that ecreasing LDL-C with a range of agents in placeboontrolled clinical trials is associated with lower event rates 3–8) has resulted in the incorporation of LDL-C reduction s a cornerstone of therapeutic guidelines aimed at cardioascular prevention. More recent evidence of incremental linical benefit by reducing LDL-C to very low levels 9–11) provides a compelling argument for the use of ntensive lipid lowering in the high-risk patient.