Dear Colleagues,

Lipids and lipoprotein particles crucially contribute to atherosclerosis as underlying pathology of cardiovascular disease; they influence inflammatory processes as well as the function of leukocytes, vascular and cardiac cells, thereby affecting vessels and the heart.
High serum levels of cholesterol are a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases that are in turn the leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. Statins are the recommended first line treatment for hypercholesterolemia, with their ability to decrease LDL-C by 30-50% and proportionally reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Unfortunately, their application may prove insufficient to achieve LDL-C goals, while intensive treatment is not always well tolerated by patients. In addition to LDL-C, other serum lipid fractions such as fatty acids, HDL-C, lipoprotein(a) may also increase individual cardiovascular risk.

In response to the need for a more personalized approach in the management of dyslipidemia, new injectable lipid-lowering drugs (e.g. PCSK9 inhibitors and small interfering RNA therapy) have recently been developed, with promising results thus far.

This Special Issue aims to collect high-quality original articles and comprehensive reviews on lipids and cardiovascular disease. Topics of interest include but are not limited to data from epidemiological studies and evidence regarding traditional and emerging lipid-lowering drugs.

Dr. Federica Fogacci, Asst. Prof. Giuliano Tocci and Assoc. Prof.Arrigo F.G. Cicero

Guest Editors