Carefully done prospective studies of an adequate number of patients that evaluate the relationship of lipids and restenosis after coronary angioplasty are limited. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels do not, in general, appear to be directly related to the risk of restenosis. However, a direct relationship between low levels of HDL cholesterol and high levels of lipoprotein (a) appears more likely from several, but not all, studies. The role of oxidized lipoproteins also remains to be clearly defined. To date, no studies have clearly and unequivocally defined the role of lipid-lowering or modifying therapies for the prevention of restenosis, although several such trials are under way. The results of these trials are likely to be of major importance to the clinician and are eagerly awaited.
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