GLUCOSE-INTOLERANCE AND DYSLIPIDAEMIAS IN PERSONS WITH PARAPLEGIA ANDTETRAPLEGIA IN SOUTH-INDIA

Glucose intolerance and dyslipidaemias have been reported among parapl egics and tetraplegics, In this study we determined the lipid profiles and the glucose tolerance in a group of 48 persons with spinal cord l esions who had been rehabilitated in our Department of Physical Medici ne and Rehabilitation. This non-randomised, descriptive study was cond ucted as part of the annual medical follow-up of these individuals. Hy pertension was observed in only 6% of the subjects. Fasting hyperglyce mia was observed ill 19% and glucose intolerance in 23% of the subject s. Total cholesterol was abnormal in 2%, but 58% had low levels of hig h density lipoprotein (HDL) 10% of the subjects had raised low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. The cardioprotective HDL fraction may remai n very low even while the total cholesterol level is within normal lim its, and unless a lipid profile estimation is done, this group of indi viduals who are at cardiovascular risk may remain undetected. We concl ude that glucose intolerance and dyslipidaemias are common among parap legic and tetraplegic individuals, and these metabolic derangements ma y contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity.