TOTAL AND LIPID-BOUND BLOOD SIALIC ACIDS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY HYPERLIPOPROTEINEMIA

Total and lipid-bound sialic acids (TSA and LBSA) were measured in the blood of 219 patients with primary or secondary hyperlipoproteinemia (129 patients with ischemic heart disease and 66 patients with diabete s mellitus type II) versus 24 normolipidemic healthy subjects. TSA lev els in IHD patients differed significantly from those in IHD-free and diabetic patients. LBSA quantities were the same in IHD and IHD-free p atients, being significantly higher in diabetes mellitus than in IHD. These findings give no proves to diagnostic value of TSA and LBSA as m arkers of IHD and coronary atherosclerosis. TSA levels may be used in the test for disturbed lipoprotein metabolism.