Clinical Guidance The National Lipid Association ("NLA") strives to champion issues of Clinical Lipidology for its members and for practitioners in the United States and internationally. In this role, the NLA has authored and endorsed various expert statements on issues affecting Lipidology. The following documents are evidence-based statements representing the pertinent issues for the practice of lipid management in clinical medicine.
NLA Consensus Recommendations Clinical Utility of Inflammatory Markers and Advanced Lipoprotein Testing: Advice from an Expert Panel of Lipid Specialists October 4, 2011
The NLA held a consensus conference in January 2011 to bring together experts on inflammatory markers and
advanced lipoprotein testing for the generation of an NLA statement of clinical guidance regarding the
utility of various biomarkers. The panel reviewed apolipoprotein B (Apo B), C-reactive protein (CRP),
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2),
low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions, low-density lipoprotein particle number/concentration (LDL-P),
and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)). The link above provides the statement of NLA expert panel, published in the
October 2011 edition of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology .Back to Top
Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Screening, Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric and
Adult Patients May 18, 2011
In connection with the Familial Hypercholesterolemia ("FH") initiative of the Foundation of the National
Lipid Association, the NLA held a consensus conference in January 2011 to bring together experts on FH for
the generation of an NLA statement of clinical guidance regarding the diagnosis and treatment FH. The link
above provides the Executive Summary of the NLA expert panel, published in the June 2011 edition of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology .
Executive Summary
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Report of the National Lipid Association's Safety Task Force: The Nonstatins March 19, 2007
In the second publication of the NLA Safety Assessment Task Force, the experts address the safety of nonstatin therapy. The link above provides the statement
of the NLA expert panel, published in the March 19, 2007 supplement to The American Journal of Cardiology .
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A Symposium: Report of the National Lipid Association's Statin Safety Task Force April 17, 2006
In an effort to address concerns about using lipid-altering therapies, the NLA appointed a Safety Assessment Task Force to
evaluate the safety of statin and statin combination therapy. The link above provides the statement of the NLA expert panel,
published in the April 17, 2006 supplement to The American Journal of Cardiology .
NLA Position Statements NLA Dietitians Response to FDA/FSIS Sodium Reduction January 25, 2012
In response to Department of Health and Human Services Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0400 and Docket No. FSIS-2011-0014, the NLA Dietician Task Force
prepared the attached response regarding Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption; Establishment of Dockets; Request for Comments, Data, and Information.
The link above provides the statement of the NLA DieticianBack to Top
AIM-HIGH Study Statement to Members (Updated) November 18, 2011
On November 15, 2011, further analysis from the Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome with Low HDL/High Triglycerides:
Impact on Global Health (AIM-HIGH) Study was presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Annual Sessions. The link above provides
the statement of the NLA regarding the AIM-HIGH outcome and recommendations for clinicians and patients.
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AIM-HIGH Study Statement to Members June 8, 2011
On May 26, 2011, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ("NHLBI") terminated the Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome
with Low HDL/High Triglyceride: Impact on Global Health ("AIM-HIGH") trial due to futility. The link above provides the statement of the
NLA regarding the AIM-HIGH outcome and recommendations for clinicians and patients.
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NLA Statement on ENHANCE Study Findings: Premature Judgment Unwarranted January 1, 2009
On the heels of the released outcome of the ENHANCE trial, the NLA convened a group of experts to reflect on the clinical utility of
ezetimibe and ezetimibe combination therapy. The link above provides the statement of the NLA regarding the ENHANCE trial outcome.
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Red Yeast Rice Study Not Conclusive: An NLA Statement to Members January 1, 2009
On June 15, 2008, The American Journal of Cardiology published an article suggesting that there may be significant benefits of xuezhikang, a specific red yeast rice extract.
The link above provides the statement of the NLA regarding xuezhikang and recommendations for clinicians and patients.
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Ending the Controversy, Upholding the Science on SEAS October 31, 2008
The Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis ("SEAS") trial aimed to reveal whether or not combination therapy is more effective than placebo
in preventing progression of aortic stenosis. When an interim report of the SEAS trial suggested a potential link between ezetimibe and the occurrence
of cancer, serious concern was raised as to the possibility of such a connection. The link above provides the statement of the NLA regarding the SEAS
trial and recommendations for clinicians and patients.
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National Lipid Association Statement Regarding Reporting of Non-HDL on Standard Laboratory Reports September 8, 2008
The NLA Task Force on Non-HDL-C gathered to generate recommendations on reporting of non-HDL on all standard lipid profiles.
The link above provides the statement of the NLA, adapted from a 2008 Journal of Clinical Lipidology article entitled "The Importance
of Non-HDL Cholesterol Reporting in Lipid Management," regarding the reporting of non-HDL cholesterol on standard laboratory reports and recommendations for clinicians and patients.
NLA Endorsed Statements Lipoprotein(a) as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor: Current Status October 21, 2010
The European Atherosclerosis Society ("EAS") convened a consensus panel for the generation of a consensus document on the evidence base supporting the contention that Lp(a) constitutes a significant cardiovascular risk factor.
The NLA officially endorses the statement of the EAS consensus panel. The link above provides the statement of the EAS consensus panel,
published October 21, 2010 in the European Heart Journal Early Access.
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