Observation of lipid profile and lipoproteins in viral hepatitis and hepatic coma

Lipid profile and lipoprotein levels were estimated in 35 patients of viral hepatitis, 15 patients of viral hepatitis with coma and in age and sex match 35 healthy controls. The values were compared in different groups. Levels of triglycerides were significantly raised (145.00 +/- 30.70 mg/dl) in viral hepatitis as compared to viral hepatitis with coma (111.40 +/- 16.80 mg/dl) which were similar to controls (110.8 +/- 20.6 mg/dl). Patients who recovered had higher levels of triglycerides (136.0 +/- 30.8 mg/dl) as compared to those who expired (110 +/- 15.72 mg/dl). Total serum cholesterol remained statistically unaltered in both groups. HDLc was significantly decreased in both groups, viral hepatitis (2.23 +/- 6.7 mg/dl) and viral hepatitis with coma (16.52 +/- 2.27 mg/dl) in comparison to controls (62.21 +/- 18.04 mg/dl). The levels were much lower in patients with coma than without coma. Furthermore the values were still lower in patients who expired (15.82 +/- 2.27 mg/dl) than in patients who recovered (24.13 +/- 7 mg/dl). The levels of LDLc were significantly raised in both groups, as compared with each other and in relation to mortality. VLDLc levels were significantly decreased in patients of viral hepatitis (22.13 +/- 5.8 mg/dl) as well as on viral hepatitis with coma (21.89 +/- 4.3 mg/dl). However, no significant difference was observed when compared with each other and in relation to mortality. Thus it may be concluded that isolated low value of HDLc in viral hepatitis may be used as a prognostic indicator.