The role of hormones in the regulation of lipoprotein metabolism (review).

Atherosclerosis appears to be a disease with a multifactorial pathogenesis. The factors participating in its etiology are called risk factors [Fejfar 1972; Stamler 1983]. These may be divided into a group of uninfluencible risk factors (age, sex, genetic load, etc.) and influencible risk factors of first or second order. Hyperlipidemia may be considered as influencible risk factor of the first order [Goldstein et al. 1973]. From this reason it is necessary to investigate the etiology of lipoprotein metabolic disorders and the possibilities of their treatment and prevention. Hormonal influences are also considered to be one of the influencible risk factors which may affect a number of steps in lipoprotein metabolism.