The effect of triglyceride concentration on coronary artery disease risk has long been controversial. In this study, we investigated possible effects of hypertriglyceridaemia on carotid intima–media thickness (IMT) and coronary flow reserve (CFR), and thereby coronary microvascular functions in otherwise healthy hypertriglyceridaemic patients and healthy controls with normal triglyceride concentration.

METHODS

Forty six patients with increased triglyceride concentrations (mean age 41.4 (6.9) years; serum triglyceride concentration ⩾ 1.7 mmol/l) and 46 healthy volunteers with normal cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations (mean age 40.9 (8.4) years; serum triglyceride concentration < 1.7 mmol/l) were studied. Inclusion criteria were good health and being free of coronary risk factors. All of the women were premenopausal and on a regular menstrual cycle. Patients with ECG changes suggesting coronary artery disease, total cholesterol > 5.2 mmol/l, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol < 0.78 mmol/l, low density lipoprotein cholesterol > 4.16 mmol/l, triglyceride > 4.56 mmol/l, vasoactive drug use within two weeks, family history of coronary artery disease, and body mass index > 30 kg/m² were excluded. Also excluded were current smokers and patients who drank alcohol, had hypertension, or had diabetes mellitus. The institutional ethics committee approved the study protocol and each participant provided written informed consent.

A high resolution 7.5 MHz linear array transducer (attached to an EUB 6500; Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) were used to …