Secondary type II hyperlipoproteinemia in patients with anorexia nervosa.

In 18 patients with anorexia nervosa, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentral concentrations were repeatedly determined over a period of 14 mo. In 11 patients elevated cholesterol concentrations were found which were due to an increase of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas high-density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were in the normal range. The elevated cholesterol values did not correlate with clinical and laboratory parameters such as the degree of weight loss and thyroid function tests. In follow-up studies it could be shown that in patients who regained their original weight, elevated plasma cholesterol concentrations fell to normal levels parallel to weight increase. In patients who showed no change in weight, however, cholesterol levels remained high. The cause for this secondary type II hyperlipoproteinemia in anorexia nervosa is not known. Hepatic triglyceride lipase and lipoprotein lipase activities in post-heparin plasma were found to be low despite normal triglyceride concentrations.