Comparative analysis of plasma lipoprotein components assessed by ultracentrifugation in primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis

Abstract

The evaluation of lipid and lipoprotein profiles in liver diseases has important cognitive aspects and provides practical information contributing to the diagnosis of liver pathology. There are few studies of this problem using the ultracentrifugation method.

Aim of the study: A comparison of lipid profile (obtained by plasma ultracentrifugation) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and chronic hepatitis (CH).

Material and methods: 103 percutaneous liver biopsies were routinely performed from 1994 to 1997. Blood samples were taken from all the patients at the time of biopsy for further evaluation of lipid profile. 15 patients with PBC and 15 patients with CH (of HBV or/and HCV etiology) were studied.

Results: In patients with CH mean total, esterified and free cholesterol levels (166 mg%, 117.6 mg% and 48.1 mg%, respectively) were significantly lower (p < 0.002; p < 0.004; p < 0.006, respectively) than in patients with PBC (237.5 mg%, 165.7 mg% and 71.8 mg%, respectively). The phospholipid concentration in sera of patients with PBC were significantly higher (271.1 mg%, p < 0.0004) than in patients with CH (187.6 mg%), whereas apolipoprotein B and apoAII were significantly lower. Total, esterified and free cholesterol levels in LDL fraction were significantly higher in patients with PBC (175.3 mg%, p < 0.007; 117.9 mg%, p < 0.02; 57.6 mg%, p < 0.01, respectively) than in patients with CH (113.7 mg%, 78.7 mg% and 35 mg%, respectively). The concentration of phospholipids in LDL fraction in patients with PBC was significantly higher (166.8 mg%; p < 0.003) in comparison with patients with CH (96.3 mg%). The differences in other lipoprotein fractions (VLDL and HDL) were not statistically significant.

Conclusions: High levels of total, free and esterified cholesterol as well as phospholipids, apolipoprotein B and AII were observed by us in patients with PBC in comparison with patients suffering from CH. The increase of cholesterol (total, esterified and free) and the phospholipid concentration in serum, are a manifestation of their higher concentration in LDL fraction.