Impaired blood rheology by remnant-like lipoprotein particles: Studies in patients with fatty liver disease

Fatty liver disease (FLD) characterised by a high plasma levels of lipoprot eins and remnant-like lipoproteins (RLP) is a risk factor for impaired micr ovascular blood flow, endothelial cell dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Usi ng an immunoseparation technique with a gel mixture containing human monocl onal antibodies to apo A-I and apo B-100, we separated and measured RLP cho lesterol (RLP-C) levels which reflect RLP in patients with FLD (n=20). Whol e blood transit time (TT) was determined by a microchannel method (MC-FAN) which allows blood flow to be viewed via a microscope connected to an image display unit. RLP-C levels were higher (P<0.01) in FLD, 15.6<plus/minus>1. 0 mg/dl compared with 4.8 +/-0.5 mg/dl for controls (n=20). Similarly, TT w as longer (P<0.01) in FLD, 284.5<plus/minus>26.1 sec/100 mul compared with 82.8 +/-1.0 sec/100 mul for controls. Since the liver is a major site for R LP formation and degradation, it is affected to a greater extent in patient s with FLD. It is likely that high levels of RLP can impair microvascular p erfusion in the liver tissue and contribute to the development and progress ion of FLD.