[Dyslipidemias and ischemic cerebral vasculopathies]

The serum cholesterol and triglycerid levels have been studied in 50 patients affected by transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) and in 89 patients suffering from cerebral infarction of non embolic origin. In 25 patients with TIA and in 59 patients with cerebral infarction, the HDL-cholesterol level and the HDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol ratio have also been determined. Every patient was matched with a control of the same age and sex for statistical proposal. The mean total cholesterol concentration was significantly higher in the male patients affected by TIA and cerebral infarction. Dividing the patients according to age, the mean total cholesterol level remained significantly higher only in the male patients with TIA under the age of 60. The mean triglycerid concentration was significantly higher as compared with the controls in the male patients with TIA under the age of 50 and in the female patients with TIA aged from 60 to 70. The HDL-cholesterol level, though lower than in controls, showed no significant variation both in patients with TIA and with cerebral infarction, excepting the male patients affected by cerebral infarction over the age of 70. The HDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol ratio was insignificantly lower than in controls both in TIA and in infarct patients. These results seem to emphasize the role of total serum cholesterol level in the pathogenesis of ischaemic cerebrovascular diseases particularly in the male patients under the age of 60. Less striking appears to be the role of serum triglycerid level. Finally we can't show a significant HDL-cholesterol reduction in our patients as compared with controls.