UNUSUAL CASE OF NORMOTRIGLYCERIDEMIA WITH ELEVATED PLASMA-LEVELS OF APOLIPOPROTEIN CII, CIII, AND APOLIPOPROTEIN-E

We present an unusual patient with normotriglyceridemia and elevated p lasma levels of apo (lipoprotein) CII, CIII, and E. The plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and HDL-cholesterol (C) were 5.1 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L, and 1.9 mmol/L, respectively. Plasma leve ls of apo AI, apo AII, apo B, apo CII, apo CIII, and apo E were 55.1 m u mol/L, 21.8 mu mol/L, 2.2 mu mol/L, 20.0 mu mol/L, 31.8 mu mol/L, an d 3.5 mu mol/L respectively. Thus, plasma levels of apo CII, apo CIII, and apo E were respectively 5, 2.5, and 2 times higher than normal. P lasma levels of VLDL-C were low and those of HDL(2)-C were high. Plasm a levels of IDL-C, large-light LDL-C, small-heavy LDL-C, and HDL(3)-C were normal. Post-heparin lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mass and activity w ere increased. Reverse cholesterol transport was normal. Thus, plasma levels of apo CII, apo CIII, and apo E were probably increased in HDL( 2) as a result of the enhanced lipolysis of VLDL by LPL in this patien t. High plasma levels of apo CII, apo CIII, and apo E seem to be due t o the stimulated transfer from VLDL to HDL(2) with enhanced secretion as VLDL from the liver because plasma levels of apo CII, apo CIII, and apo E are normal in patients with hyperalphalipoproteinemia. (C) 1997 , Medikal Press.