[HDL2 and HDL3 cholesterol in hepatic cirrhosis]

In order to further investigate plasma lipoproteins abnormalities secondary to serious liver damage, we studied plasma lipids and lipoproteins, and in particular HDL subfractions (HDL2, HDL3), in 12 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and in 12 sex, age and weight matched healthy volunteers. Enzymatic methods were used to determine total cholesterol and triglycerides, while the extractive method of Abell et al. was used for the determination of HDL-cholesterol levels after LDL and VLDL precipitation with polyanions (MnCl2 and Na-heparin) and of HDL3-cholesterol values after HDL2 precipitation with dextran-sulphate 15,000 m.w. Total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in cirrhotic patients compared to normal subjects. We must emphasize that only HDL3-cholesterol was decreased in cirrhotics, whereas HDL2-cholesterol values were normal or high. We suggest that a diminished activity of hepatic triglyceride lipase might account for the decrease in HDL3-cholesterol in liver cirrhosis.