[Demonstration of lipoprotein anomalies in leptospirosis. Prospective study in 10 patients]

Abnormalities of lipid metabolism have never been shown in human leptospirosis. A prospective study of plasma lipids was performed in 10 consecutive patients with leptospirosis. Significant increase of triglycerides with low levels of the high-density lipoproteins and cholesterol fraction was observed in 8 patients. Electrophoresis of lipoproteins showed a fusion of beta and pre-beta lipoproteins and a marked decrease of alpha lipoproteins. The respective role of bacteria, liver and kidney could be suggested to explain these abnormalities of lipoproteins in leptospirosis.