[High-molecular-weight lipoprotein concentrations in pneumonia in children and experimental animals].

Bacterial sepsis can alter the level of serum lipids in man. We have been to find any reports on lipoproteins in children with pneumonia. The study group comprised 25 children from 9 months to 4 years suffering from severe pneumonia. The initial phase of disease in most of the children involved an increase in endogenous triglyceride values and a decrease in the lipids of high density lipoproteins (HDL). An increase in VLDL and decrease in VLDL and decrease in HDL were confirmed by lipoprotein electrophoresis. The drastic fall in HDL resulted in HDL-cholesterol and phospholipid levels as low as 50 and 100 mg/l respectively. Etiological factors were gramnegative bacteria. On remission HDL levels increased and that of VLDL decreased. Similar lipid investigations have been performed in animals (rabbits). The results of these investigations were convergent with those obtained in children. The extend and intensity of the lung changes were not, however, connected with the kind of bacillus with which the children were infected. It is probable that retention of triglycerides is the result of the reduction in HDL concentration. The question arises whether the low HDL level can be linked with synthesis of surfactant lecithin in pulmonary alveoli, or with endotoxin.