Tratamiento de las hiperlipidemias

In a patient with a hyperlipidemia it is necessary to calculate the global cardiovascular risk taking in account all the cardiovascular risk factors as a whole. For this purpose, it is recommended to use the function of risk SCORE. This chapter offers an updated review of practical management of hyperlipidemias: lifestyle and medical therapy (drugs and combination of drugs). The goals of treatment are discussed, according to the latest guidelines. The main therapeutic goal is still lowering LDL cholesterol. Nevertheless, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol are becoming more and more important in the management of the so-called “residual cardiovascular risk”. In this chapter, the evidence associated to the influence of changes in lifestyle upon different lipid parameters is reviewed, as well as the main pharmacological groups: statins, fibrates, nicotinic acid, omega 3 fatty acids, ezetimibe and bile-acids sequestrants.