Plasma lipids and lipoproteins of a patient with cholesteryl ester storage disease

The plasma lipids, lipoproteins and lipolytic enzymes of a patient suffering from cholesterol ester storage disease were investigated and followed over a time period of 3 years. The patient was hypertriglyceridaemic and cholesterolaemic and exhibited very low levels of high density lipoproteins. These lipoproteins consisted almost exclusively of the HDL-subfraction-3. Apolipoprotein-B was elevated and apoAI and AII were grossly reduced. The activity of lipoprotein lipase was normal, but hepatic lipase values were increased. Lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase was in the upper normal range. The corresponding lipoprotein and enzyme values of one brother were within normal limits but some components measured in the plasma of the father were abnormal. It is speculated that the low plasma HDL levels in this disease may be a consequence of increased hepatic lipase activity in addition to a derangement in the reverse cholesterol flow.