The effect of human leptospirosis on the composition and concentration of serum lipids and lipoproteins.

1. Plasma lipids and lipoproteins were studied in 9 male patients during the immune phase of leptospirosis and 4 months later after recovery. 2. Electrophoretic patterns of plasma lipoproteins were characterized by the absence of alpha- and pre-beta lipoprotein bands and the presence of a single broad beta band. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction ran in the pre-beta position and triglyceride (TG) content was high. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) moved into three different bands and were rich in TG. Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) migrated normally and their triglyceride content was low. All lipoprotein fractions had low levels of cholesteryl esters. 3. In infected patients, the fractional lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) rate (%/h) was low, while the molar LCAT rate (mumol 1(-1)h-1 remained unchanged. Both VLDL and LDL cholesterol levels increased while HDL cholesterol decreased. 4. These findings demonstrated that abnormalities in lipoprotein composition are associated with leptospiral liver injury.