Abstract

excess, hypertriglyceridemia, oxidative stress, and hyper-fibrinogenemia as possible new cardiac risk factors. This review summarizes the current literature that supports these conditions as cardiac risk factors. Left ventricular hypertrophy is an independent risk factor for vascular disease. Improvement or progression of left ventricular hypertrophy influences subsequent cardiovascular compli-cations. Clinical trials are under way to assess the potential benefit of decreasing homocysteine levels. The role of lipoprotein(a) excess in vascular disease is controversial. The atherogenic potential of lipoprotein(a) seems to be neutralized by effective reduction of low-density lipopro-tein cholesterol levels. Increasing evidence supports an independent role of hypertriglyceridemia in cardiovascu-lar disease and a possible clinical benefit from decreasing