High density lipoprotein and arteriosclerosis. Different patterns in primary hypothyroidism and type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia
Brook, J.G.; Aviram, M.; Luboshitzky, R.; Barzilai, D.
Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 17(5): 318-322
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-2180 PMID: 7263188 Document Number: 173261
Concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL) and its subfractions were contrasted in two groups of patients with hypercholesterolemia and a control group of normocholesterolemic subjects. HDL-cholesterol and HDL-protein were low in patients with Type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia, but elevated in patients with primary hypothyroidism. HDL-3 levels were low whereas those of HDL-2 remained unchanged in patients with Type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia. In contrast, in the hypothyroid patients, HDL-3 remained unchanged, while HDL-2 levels were high. The role of HDL in the development of arteriosclerosis in patients with primary hypothyroidism is therefore questioned. Our findings also suggest that measurement of HDL-cholesterol alone cannot be regarded as an accurate indicator of changes in total HDL concentration in different clinical situations.