Serum triglyceride elevations in patients with septicemia

Lipoprotein alterations in children with bacterial meningitis

Abnormalities in serum lipids, including hypertriglyceridemia, are common during infectious disorders. However, the lipoprotein pattern during infections, particularly in children, has been investigated to only a limited extent. We have monitored alterations in serum lipoproteins in eight children with a severe bacterial infection (meningitis) by a quantitating method measuring cholesterol and triglycerides in each major class. The levels of triglycerides in serum and in low-density lipoproteins were markedly elevated during the infection, whereas the amount of cholesterol in high-density lipoproteins was decreased. The cholesterol to triglyceride ratio was decreased in low-, as well as in high-density lipoproteins. These lipoprotein abnormalities may, at least in part, be explained by a depressed lipolytic activity of lipoprotein lipase, the key enzyme for removal of triglycerides in man. Serum triglycerides and the levels of cholesterol in high-density lipoproteins, as well as the ratio between these parameters, may be used as indicators of inflammatory activity.

Dyslipoproteinemia in patients with severe bacterial infections

Infection induces changes in the serum lipoprotein pattern in man. In this report the concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides in the major serum lipoprotein classes were followed in 9 patients with severe bacterial infections. Blood samples for lipoprotein analysis were obtained in the fasting state the first 4 days after admission to the hospital and after 2-3 weeks and 2 months. The serum lipoprotein concentrations of the patients were compared with those from a group of healthy subjects. The total serum cholesterol concentration was lowered during the acute stage of the disease and remained low the first days in hospital. The very low (VLDL) density lipoprotein cholesterol level in serum was mainly within the normal range. The low (LDL) density lipoprotein cholesterol values in serum were low during the first 4 days in hospital. The high (HDL) density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration values were extremely decreased on the first day in hospital and had a tendency to further reduction from day 1 to day 4. Both the LDL and the HDL serum cholesterol were normalized after recovery.