Plasma Lecithin‐cholesterol Acyltransferase and Erythrocyte Lipids in Liver Disease

Plasma lecithin‐cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity was reduced to approximately one fourth of normal values in patients with chronic parenchymatous liver disease without marked jaundice (mean serum bilirubin 2.0 mg/dl). A significant increase in red cell cholesterol was concomitantly demonstrated with a highly significant correlation between red cell cholesterol content and the concentration of plasma‐free cholesterol. In patients with marked obstructive jaundice (mean serum bilirubin 14.6 mg/dl) the plasma LCAT activity was even lower and in some hardly detectable. This reduced activity could not be explained by LCAT inhibition in plasma. Erythrocyte cholesterol content was markedly increased up to twice the normal values. A significant increase in erythrocyte lecithin and significant decreases in sphingomyelin and phosphatidyl ethanolamine were also found. Erythrocyte cholesterol content was found to be normal in patients with hyperbetalipoproteinemia and marked elevation of plasma total cholesterol with normal plasma cholesterol esterification.