Plasma lipid alterations in leukemia and lymphoma.

Plasma lipids and lipoproteins were studied at presentations in 25 patients with acute leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. All patients demonstrated an abnormally in at least one plasma lipid fraction, and most exhibited a predictable pattern of lipid alterations that consisted of extremely low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (median [Xm] = 23), elevated triglyceride (Xm = 165) and elevated very-low-density lipoprotein (Xm = 26). Patients restudied during remission demonstrated a return to normal values. The degree of lipid abnormality was directly related to the underlying tumor burden and particularly to the presence of bone marrow involvement. However, even patients with minimal tumor bulk demonstrated plasma lipid abnormalities. The results suggest that an abnormality in systemic lipid metabolism, possibly in triglyceride clearance, is present in these patients and that its incidence in this population is high.