REMNANT-LIKE PARTICLES IN VARIOUS LIVER DISEASES

Abstract

Remnant-like particles (RLP) are the lipoproteins that do not bind to an immunoaffinity gel mixture made of anti-apo A-I and anti-apo B-100 monoclonal antibodies. It was previously shown that RLP could provide a useful index for potentially atherogenic chylomicron and very low density lipoprotein-like remnants.Liver is the most important organ for lipid metabolism. Thus we studied changes in cholesterol and triglyceride values of RLP [RLP (Ch) and RLP (TG)] in 364 patients with various liver diseases.There were no significant differences in RLP (Ch), RLP (TG), RLP (Ch) /RLP (TG) [ratio of RLP (Ch) to RLP (TG)] in patients with chronic hepatitis or compensated liver cirrhosis when compared with the control group. However, RLP (TG) and RLP (TG) /T-TG [ratio of RLP (TG) to total triglyceride of serum] were significantly lower, RLP (Ch) /RLP (TG) was higher in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma than in controls (P<0.01).Good correlations between ICG 15min., serum choline esterase, serum albmin and RLP (TG), RLP (TG) RLP (TG) / RLP (TG) were obtained. These results suggest that RLP (TG), RLP (TG) /T-TG and RLP (Ch) /RLP (TG) are useful indexes of severe liver dysfunction and poor lipid metabolism.Patients with fatty liver and alcoholic liver injury with fatty change of liver also showed significantly higher RLP (Ch) and RLP (TG) values.