Diagnosis of hyperlipidemia in patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction
Larsen, M.L.; Laursen, S.O.; Hansen, A.B.; Blaabjerg, O.; Nielsen, B.L.; Hørder, M.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 151(8): 487-489
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 2922849 Document Number: 336662
A decrease in serum cholesterol occurs in patients with acute myocardial infarction. It was previously advised to postpone assessment of hyperlipidaemia until three months later. In 66 patients with acute myocardial infarction and histories of pain for less than 24 hours, the present authors have measured fasting serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride and serum high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol during the first or second day of hospitalization. The lipids were measured on the first day of hospitalization in 49 patients and in 17 patients after hospitalization for more than 24 hours. In all of the patients, renewed measurements of the lipids were performed three months after the myocardial infarction. No differences were found in the serum concentrations of serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride and high density lipoprotein cholesterol on the first day of hospitalization and after three months. On measurement after the first day, the serum cholesterol was found to be significantly lower than at the three months' control (p < 0.01). In 35 patients, measurements of lipids were undertaken during the first day, after six weeks and after three months. No differences in the lipid values were found at all three times of taking samples. Measurement of lipids may, therefore, be performed advantageously on the first day of hospitalization in patients with acute myocardial infarction and with histories of pain for less than 24 hours. The authors propose that, in future, the primary assessment of hyperlipidaemia should be based solely on measurement of the serum total cholesterol in connection with the first sample of blood withdrawn for assessment of enzymes for the diagnosis of infarction. On the basis of this, subsequent assessment of lipids can be arranged.