REVERSIBLE ABNORMALITIES OF LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN COMPOSITION IN FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Abstract. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) composition was analysed in twenty‐one patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia, including six homozygotes. By comparison with nineteen controls the patients' LDL had an increased ratio of cholesterol:phospholipid and a decreased ratio of lecithin:sphingomyelin; these changes were more marked in homozygotes than in heterozygotes. Treatment of seven patients with plasma exchange temporarily resulted in near‐normalization of the composition of their LDL. These results suggest that abnormalities of LDL composition in familial hypercholesterolaemia are secondary to hypocatabolism of LDL, which prolongs the half‐life of LDL and thus increases the mean age of the population of particles circulating in plasma. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved