[Serum lipids of alcoholics before and following abstinence. Significance for coronary risk]

Cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins were studied in 23 alcoholics on admission for withdrawal therapy and after 4 weeks of abstinence. Lipoproteins were estimated quantitatively by lipoprotein electrophoresis. The results were used for the prediction of the risk of coronary heart disease. Half of the alcoholics had "high" or "elevated coronary risk" on admission for withdrawal. Abstinence resulted in decreased HDL-cholesterol concentrations in serum. Concurrently, the number of alcoholics with elevated coronary risk increased. This was mainly caused by high LDL-cholesterol levels on admission and after abstinence.