Over the past 20 years, effective treatments for lipid disorders have become available. With the high incidence of coronary artery disease in the developed world, interest in this area has greatly increased and 10% of the UK population now qualify for lipid lowering treatment. It is therefore important that the rational use of lipid-lowering treatment is based on an understanding of the underlying metabolic problem.
This comprehensive but concise guide makes basic lipid metabolism understandable to the reader without over-simplification. The often confusing classification of lipid disorders is explained clearly, and this book will appeal to cardiologists, trainees, and all related healthcare professionals who are involved in prescribing lipid-lowering medications on a daily basis.

Paul Nicholls is Consultant Physician and Honorary Professor of Medicine at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
Ian Young is Professor of Medicine and Consultant Clinical Biochemist, Queen's University of Belfast and Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.

• 1: History of lipids


• 2: Epidemiology


• 3: Lipid particles


• 4: Lipid metabolism


• 5: Mechanisms of atherogenesis


• 6: Hypercholesterolaemia and risk assessment


• 7: Familial hypercholesterolaemia


• 8: Hypertriglyceridaemia


• 9: Treatments available


• 10: Abnormal liver tests


• 11: Muscle pains and CK


• 12: Lipid drug trials


• 13: Clinical cases