The effect of human leptospirosis on the composition and concentration of serum lipids and lipoproteins.
1. Plasma lipids and lipoproteins were studied in 9 male patients during the immune phase of leptospirosis and 4 months later after recovery. 2. Electrophoretic patterns of plasma lipoproteins were characterized by the absence of alpha- and pre-beta lipoprotein bands and the presence of a single broad beta band. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction ran in the pre-beta position and triglyceride (TG) content was high. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) moved into three different bands and were rich in TG. Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) migrated normally and their triglyceride content was low. All lipoprotein fractions had low levels of cholesteryl esters. 3. In infected patients, the fractional lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) rate (%/h) was low, while the molar LCAT rate (mumol 1(-1)h-1 remained unchanged. Both VLDL and LDL cholesterol levels increased while HDL cholesterol decreased. 4. These findings demonstrated that abnormalities in lipoprotein composition are associated with leptospiral liver injury.
Departamento de Fisiologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo, Brasil.
J R
JR
Cisternas
T
T
Milstein-Kuschnaroff
D000328:Adult; D004588:Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate; D004951:Esterification; D006801:Humans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase