Author profile

Lipoprotein(a): Why is it important?

Although lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a) was discovered 50 years ago, its role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) still challenges both basic scientists and clinicians. Elevated Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for... Read More

The British Columbia Familial Hypercholesterolemia Registry

Type 1 diabetes mellitus, cystic fibrosis, and congenital hypo­thyroidism are common terms in our medical lexicon. We are well versed in their clinical features, underlying pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, and... Read More

Commonplace to condemned: The discovery that tobacco kills, and how Richard Doll shaped modern smoking cessation practices

In the early 1950s 80% of middle-aged men in the UK smoked and only 0.5% said they had never touched a cigarette. The Second World War was over and it was a time of social pro­gress and general merriment. Nevertheless,... Read More

Ancel Keys and the lipid hypothesis: From early breakthroughs to current management of dyslipidemia

The role of dietary cholesterol in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cardiovas­cular disease is well established in current medical science. However, as recently as 60 years ago, this important association was... Read More

Lack of benefit in treating high homocysteine levels with vitamins

In 1969, McCully suggested that elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) are associated with atherosclerosis.[1] He noted high prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD)... Read More

Further to CVD in diabetes

I would like to make a few points in relation to Drs Frohlich and Ignaszewski’s response to my letter on CVD in diabetes (BCMJ 2006;48[1]:10-12). I suggested that the “vast majority of” (not “all”)... Read More

Re: CVD in diabetes

I suspect that the article by Dr David Wood, et al, “Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes” (BCMJ, (2005;47(8):424-428), may be misleading for many physicians,... Read More

Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes

There is now solid evidence that proper pharmacological and nonpharmacological management of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) has a significant beneficial impact on morbidity and mortality in... Read More

Lipid-lowering treatment prevents first cardiovascular events in high-risk populations with normal or even low cholesterol level

While many physicians (particularly the lipidologists!) accept dyslipidemia as one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis, some remain skeptical about the role of lipids in atherogenesis. Their degree of... Read More

Diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with diabetes mellitus

 Burden of diabetes It has been predicted that up to 100 million people will be newly diagnosed with diabetes over the next year.[1] The sedentary lifestyle of wealthy populations appears to play a major... Read More