Lipoprotein and Hematocrit

Plasma levels of lipids and hematocrit (Ht) in survivors of cerebral infarction (C. I.) and patients with various diseases including hyperlipidemia were measured to study the relationships between lipoprotein metabolism and erythropoiesis.The survivors of C. I. were divided into two groups according to the level of Ht. The mean level of plasma cholesterol in the group with Ht levels of 45% and over was higher than in the group with Ht levels below 45%.The level of Ht was well correlated with the level of plasma cholesterol in patients with various diseases including anemia and hypercholesterolemia. In males, there was a weak correlation between Ht and triglyceride (TG) levels but not in females. HDL-cholesterol levels were independent of Ht levels in both sexes.Treatment of anemia led to a rise in plasma cholesterol levels in a patient with iron deficiency anemia.These results suggest the possibility that the metabolism of lipoprotein, especially of low density lipoprotein, has some effect on erythropoiesis.