CETP deficiency linked to cardiovascular disease and stroke within a high-HDL syndrome, especially in women (Mol Genet Metab Rep 2014)

Researchers compared clinical profiles of people with marked hyperalphalipoproteinemia (very high HDL cholesterol) with and without cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) deficiency, to clarify whether this high-HDL state is always a marker of good health. CETP deficiency was associated with cardiovascular disease and strokes within the high-HDL population, particularly among women, while women with high HDL but without CETP deficiency tended to have a higher prevalence of cancer history. The authors conclude that marked hyperalphalipoproteinemia is not always a marker of longevity and can instead be accompanied by pathological conditions depending on whether CETP deficiency is present.