Comparison of triglyceride concentration with lipemic index in disorders of triglyceride and glycerol metabolism.
BACKGROUND
In plasma, triglycerides (TG) are transported in lipoprotein particles (mainly chylomicrons, very low-density and low-density lipoprotein). Turbidimetry (bichromatically at 660 and 700 nm) allows measurement of the lipemic (L) index. We explored the use of this index, in combination with a TG assay, to detect errors due to non-fasting, to assess abnormalities in TG metabolism and to detect patients with glycerol kinase deficiency (GKD).


METHODS
We collected 2441 patient samples. Normolipidemic (n=2347), type IV hyperlipidemic (n=80), postprandial samples (n=22) and serial dilutions of Intralipid with saline (n=6) were selected. One patient presenting with GKD was included, as well as two patients with type I and type V hyperlipoproteinemia, respectively.


RESULTS
We introduced the use of the ratio between the logarithm of serum triglycerides and that of the L-index (TG/L ratio).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the proposed TG/L-index ratio cannot be regarded as an alternative for the accurate diagnosis of lipid disorders, it provides additional information about TG-containing particles.
Laboratory for Clinical Chemistry, Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
Heide
H
De Haene
Youri
Y
Taes
Armand
A
Christophe
Joris
J
Delanghe
D005991:Glycerol Kinase / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006951:Hyperlipoproteinemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D005991:Glycerol Kinase