Pre- and post-treatment values of HDL cholesterol and total: HDL cholesterol ratio in hyperlipoproteinaemic subjects.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations were measured in fasting blood samples from 74 controls and 185 patients with untreated primary hyperlipoproteinaemia. The mean HDL cholesterol levels and the total cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratios were significantly different between male and female subjects. Only patients with Fredrickson type IV hyperlipoproteinaemia had HDL cholesterol concentrations significantly lower than controls, but all subjects with hyperlipoproteinaemia had total:HDL cholesterol ratios significantly higher than control values. Subsequent investigations were performed on 31 patients during treatment of the hyperlipoproteinaemia by diet alone or in combination with clofibrate. Responses were variable, but generally improvements in the concentrations of triglyceride and total cholesterol were accompanied by an unchanged or decreased total:HDL cholesterol ratio, although there was not necessarily an increase in the HDL cholesterol itself.