RELATION OF CHOLESTEROL ESTERIFICATION RATE TO THE PLASMA DISTRIBUTION OF HIGH-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN SUBCLASSES IN NORMAL AND HYPERTENSIVE WOMEN

We studied the particle size distribution of plasma high-density lipop roteins (HDL) by gradient gel electrophoresis and by assay of choleste rol esterification rate (FER(HDL)) in plasma depleted of very low (VLD L) and low-density (LDL) lipoproteins in 32 hypertensive women (53 +/- 10 y old) and in an age-matched group of 21 apparently healthy women. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to their plasma total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol. The plasma triglycer ide (TG) concentration was significantly higher in the group of hypert ensive women, and HDL-free cholesterol was significantly lower in the hypertensive group. There were highly significant differences in the r elative proportions of HDL subclasses between the hypertensive and con trol women: HDL(2b) was significantly lower and HDL(3b,c) was signific antly higher in hypertensive patients compared to controls. FER(HDL) w as 12 +/- 4%/h in the control group and 18 +/- 6%/h in patients with h ypertension (p < 0.001). There was a strong positive correlation betwe en FER(HDL) and the relative content of HDL(3h,c), and a strong negati ve correlation between FER(HDL) and HDL(2b) in both groups. Comparison of subgroups of healthy and hypertensive pre- and postmenopausal wome n revealed, apart from age, no significant differences between the hea lthy subjects in any of the above parameters.