If we explore the different associations between lipoprotein particle concentrations and cIMT, we can see that there is an inverse relationship between serum HDL cholesterol level and cIMT. But when HDL cholesterol is adjusted for other major risk factors and then adjusted for LDL particle concentration, the relationship changes. In other words, serum HDL cholesterol becomes more important as a predictor of cIMT below a certain threshold, ie, <41 mg/dL.
J Clin Lipidol. 2011; 5(6).