The Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment
of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III, or ATP III)
constitutes the National Cholesterol Education Program's (NCEP's) updated
clinical guidelines for cholesterol testing and management. The full ATP III
document is an evidence-based and extensively referenced report that provides
the scientific rationale for the recommendations contained in the executive
summary. ATP III builds on previous ATP reports and expands the indications
for intensive cholesterol-lowering therapy in clinical practice. It should
be noted that these guidelines are intended to inform, not replace, the physician's
clinical judgment, which must ultimately determine the appropriate treatment
for each individual.