Cardiovascular Drugs and Medications Q 48
For lipid-lowering agents to be successful, drug therapy must lower:
A. HDL
B. LDL
C. Total fat
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: B. LDL
An elevated LDL is the most significant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis; therefore, for drug therapy to be effective, LDL must be reduced. Atherosclerosis is one of the major causes of coronary heart disease. According to the 2016 CDC data, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Dietary modifications, weight reduction, and exercise are the first line of defense. Patients at an increased risk of having a cardiovascular event (cardiovascular death, nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, coronary revascularization, or unstable angina) benefit from lipid-lowering medications.
Option A: The primary function of HDL is the transport of cholesterol from the peripheral tissues to the liver, playing a role in the biodistribution of lipids. HDL is known for its anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, thanks to its uptake and return of the cholesterol stored in the foam cells of atherosclerotic plaques to the liver. Thus, reducing the size of the plaque and its associated inflammation.
Option C: Fats and lipids are an essential component of the homeostatic function of the human body. Lipids contribute to some of the body’s most vital processes. Since cholesterol is mostly lipophilic, it is transported through the blood, along with triglycerides, inside lipoprotein particles (HDL, IDL, LDL, VLDL, and chylomicrons). These lipoproteins can be detected in the clinical setting to estimate the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
Option D: There are several types of lipoproteins that travel through the blood, and they each have different purposes. There are high-density lipoproteins (HDL), intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). Notably, LDL particles are thought to act as a major transporter of cholesterol, at least two-thirds of circulating cholesterol resides in LDL, to the peripheral tissues. Conversely, HDL molecules are thought to do the opposite. They take excess cholesterol and return it to the liver for excretion.