The phospholipid composition of erythrocyte ghosts and plasma lipoproteins in diabetes type 1 in children.

Erythrocyte membrane and plasma phospholipid profiles in healthy juveniles and diabetic type 1 patients were determined in order to elucidate the possible relationship between blood lipoprotein phospholipid status and phospholipid composition of red cell membranes. Membrane sphingomyelin was raised in diabetes (22.7 +/- 3.7% in controls vs. 26.7 +/- 3.3% in diabetics), whereas plasma sphingomyelin was generally reduced. The proportions of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were not altered and that of acidic phospholipids (phosphatidylserine + phosphatidylinositol) was increased in diabetes (10.7 +/- 2.0 vs. 12.2 +/- 2.9). Total plasma and lipoprotein lecithin remained unchanged. Significantly decreased mean molar lecithin: cholesterol ratios of red blood cell membranes and low density lipoproteins were noticed in diabetics (0.414 +/- 0.071 vs. 0.327 +/- 0.068 and 0.318 +/- 0.030 vs. 0.257 +/- 0.046, respectively), and that of high density lipoproteins was enhanced insignificantly (0.124 +/- 0.040 in controls vs. 0.151 +/- 0.044 in diabetics). These plasma lipid changes were associated with alterations in the membrane lipid pattern; the highest correlations concerned sphingomyelin (r = 0.843) and acidic phospholipids (PS + PI) (r = 0.919).