Hyperlipidaemia in gout.

Significant elevations of plasma triglyceride and free fatty acids levels were shown in 107 gouty patients, but no significant difference was found in plasma cholesterol and phospholipid levels as compared with control subjects. A positive correlation was found between plasma triglyceride and free fatty acids levels (r = 0.249, P less than 0.05) in gouty patients. The heavy drinkers with gout (15.9% of the patients) had significantly higher plasma triglyceride, free fatty acids and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase levels than the moderate or non-drinking gouty subjects. These results suggested that excessive intake of alcohol may play an important role in inducing hyperlipidaemia in gout.