Test for LDL subtype helps manage coronary risk: Vlad Vasile, M.D., Ph.D., and Leslie Donato, Ph.D.

Patients with elevated LDL or "bad" cholesterol face even greater risk if their levels of small dense LDL cholesterol are also high. Vlad Vasile, M.D., Ph.D., and Leslie Donato, Ph.D., explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' sdLDL-c assay measures concentrations of the small dense LDL subtype, to better guide clinical care.(00:32) Could you both tell us a little about yourselves and your backgrounds? (01:24) Could you tell us a little bit about small dense LDL cholesterol and why it is an important marker for helping a physician understand a patient's risk for coronary heart disease? (03:22) Could you describe the types of patients who could benefit from having a better understanding of their sdLDL-c levels? (04:36) Could you help us understand other tests or methodologies that are currently used to assess cardiovascular risk? (06:13) Could you describe Mayo Clinic's new assay for sdLDL-c cholesterol and how it will benefit physicians managing CVD patients?