Determination of plasma levels of apolipoprotein E and of HDL-cholesterol in gouty patients [Determinazione dei livelli plasmatici delle apolipoproteine E delle HDL-C in pazienti gottosi]

The authors have examined the levels of the plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, of the plasma lipoprotein (HDL, LDL, VLDL) and of their main apolipoproteins (apo-A and apo-B) in a group of 34 patients affected by gout and in a population of healthy subjects considered as a contrast group, trying to establish a plausible dislipidemic factor which could justify the major occurrence of coronary heart disease in patients suffering from gout. Statistical analysis was done with the t-test. The group of patients affected by gout had significantly higher levels of triglycerides and VLDL-C and lower levels of HDL-C than the population of healthy subjects. The change of the lipoprotein pattern observed in the patients suffering from gout may be linked to reduction of the catabolism of the triglycerides rich lipoprotein. This reduction is probably linked to a inhibition of lipoprotein lipase.