[LDL-Cholesterol--Is there an "LDL hypothesis"?].

The term "LDL-Hypothesis" is frequently used to describe the association between LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and cardiovascular outcomes. In the light of recent results of randomized trials the question arises whether the term hypothesis is still adequate. Considering the causal importance of LDL for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, epidemiological evidence and the clear genetic association of LDL-C with cardiovascular risk as well as the large statin trials and the reduction of events by a non-statin intervention in the IMPROVE-IT study, the term "hypothesis" appears to be outdated and should be replaced by "LDL-causality".