Lipoproteinlipase activity in multiple sclerosis and other neurologic diseases

Taking into account the disturbances of lipid metabolism occurring in patients with demyelinating diseases, an expected finding was their increased basal lipolytic activity. We investigated 135 cases divided into 4 categories: 1. MS; 2. inflammatory diseases of the CNS; 3. cerebrovascular diseases and other diseases without any CNS organic involvements; 4. a group of absolutely healthy controls (blood donors). High values of plasmatic lipolytic activity were found in multiple sclerosis patients as compared with the other groups. They were probably due to the effect of a disturbance with an influence upon the basal lipoproteinlipase activity too. This influence is likely to refer to the stages of the process by which heparin releases lipoprotein-lipase from the capillary endothelium. Significant correlations between the clinical evolution of the disease and the values of lipolytic activity were pointed out. Measurement of this activity is a useful biochemical test in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.