[Alcohol-induced type V hyperlipidemia in relation to changes in the chemical composition of HDL2]

Alcohol consumption is one of the most common causes of secondary hyperlipidaemia in man, but not all alcohol addicts display hyperlipidaemia. 10 healthy male controls were compared with three groups of patients. The first group consisted of 9 heavy drinkers exhibiting type V hyperlipidaemia under the influence of alcohol. The second group consisted of 7 patients who had displayed type V hyperlipidaemia during alcohol consumption in the past; at the time of investigation, however, they had ceased to drink alcohol at least 6 months previously and were normolipidaemic. The third group consisted of 7 heavy drinkers without hyperlipidaemia. Determinations of plasma lipids and lipoproteins (by means of rate zonal ultracentrifugation), as well as the major apolipoproteins (apo) of high-density lipoproteins2 (HDL2) and HDL3 (by means of polyacrylamide disc-gel electrophoresis) was carried out in all subjects. Two distinct findings were obtained: the one caused by alcohol abuse itself and the other possibly representing a primary trait consisting of an alteration in lipoproteins. In both groups of heavy drinkers the content of apo-CI in HDL2 was lower and the content of apo-AII was higher than in the controls and the abstinent group. In groups I and II with alcohol-dependent type V hyperlipidaemia, the percentage content of total protein in HDL2, as well as the content of apo-D was higher than in controls and in heavy drinkers without hyperlipidaemia. This increased content of apo-D in HDL2 is discussed as being a possible primary marker of alcohol-inducible hyperlipidaemia.