[A case of hyperalphalipoproteinemia with complete deficiency of cholesteryl ester transfer activity]

A 68-year-old male patient with benign hypertension shows high levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) of 171 mg/dl. The serum total cholesterol was 240 mg/dl. An abnormal slow alpha band and polydisperse low density lipoprotein (LDL) bands were detected by agarose gel and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The slow alpha band was considered as an apo E-rich HDL. A peak of large HDL particle and a peak of abnormal high-molecular-LDL particle were observed in the patient's serum by gel permeation high performance liquid chromatography. Cholesteryl ester transfer activity (CETA) of the patient's serum was completely deficient (0.0%/10 microliters/18 hr). From these results, it is strongly suggested that patient's hyper-HDL-cholesterolemia caused by a complete deficiency of CETA.