Erythrocyte membrane, plasma and atherosclerotic plaque lipid pattern in coronary heart disease.

The objective was to analyze the lipid composition of the atherosclerotic plaque (AP), plasma and erythrocyte membrane (EM) in patients with advanced coronary heart disease (CHD). AP were obtained through endarterectomy in 18 patients. Ten normolipemic healthy subjects were selected to obtain the normal lipid pattern profile. Total lipids of AP and EM were determined by HPTLC, and the fatty acid profile from AP, EM and plasma using TLC-FID. The relative amount of the lipid species analyzed in AP was in line with the data in the literature [phospholipids: 23.5 mol% +/- 3.5; total cholesterol 68.9 mol% +/- 7.9; triglyceride 7.6 mol% +/- 3.4]. Plasma and EM from CHD patients compared to controls, showed a decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids and an increase in saturated fatty acids leading to a decrease in the unsaturation index (plasma: 1.67 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.28 +/- 0.03, P < 0.05; EM: 2.28 +/- 0.04 vs. 1.25 +/- 0.010, P < 0.05) and an enhancement in the saturated/unsaturated ratio (plasma: 0.35 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.52 +/- 0.02, P < 0.05; EM: 0.45 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.83 +/- 0.04, P < 0.05). These data are consistent with an essential fatty acid deficiency. Total cholesterol was increased in the CHD's EM (32.3 +/- 0.8 vs. 40.6 +/- 2.5, P < 0.05) with a decrease in phospholipid percentage (67.7 +/- 0.7 vs. 59.4 +/- 2.6, P < 0.05) indicating an alteration in membrane fluidity. These findings suggest changes in EM lipids in CHD patients in spite of different pathological conditions such as age, smoking status and diabetes. The analysis of the lipid composition of EM could provide a useful tool to monitor the evolution of the CHD.

Erythrocyte membrane, plasma and atherosclerotic plaque lipid pattern in coronary heart disease / Perfil lipídico de membrana de eritrocito, plasma y placa ateromatosa en la enfermedad coronaria

The objective was to analyze the lipid composition of the atherosclerotic plaque (AP), plasma and erythrocyte membrane (EM) in patients with advanced coronary heart disease (CHD). AP were obtained through endarterectomy in 18 patients. Ten normolipemic healthy subjects were selected to obtain the normal lipid pattern profile. Total lipids of AP and EM were determined by HPTLC, and the fatty acid profile from AP, EM and plasma using TLC-FID. The relative amount of the lipid species analyzed in AP was in line with the data in the literature [phospholipids: 23.5 mol% more or less 3.5; total cholesterol 68.9 mol% more or less 7.9; triglyceride 7.6 mol% more or less 3.4]. Plasma and EM from CHD patients compared to controls, showed a decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids and an increase in saturated fatty acids leading to a decrease in the unsaturation index (plasma: 1.67 more or less 0.06 vs. 1.28 more or less 0.03, P less than 0.05; EM: 2.28 more or less 0.04 vs. 1.25 more or less 0.010, P less than 0.05) and an enhancement in the saturated/unsaturated ratio (plasma: 0.35 more or less 0.02 vs. 0.52 more or less 0.02, P less than 0.05; EM: 0.45 more or less 0.01 vs. 0.83 more or less 0.04, P less than 0.05). These data are consistent with an essential fatty acid deficiency. Total cholesterol was increased in the CHD's EM (32.3 more or less 0.8 vs. 40.6 more or less 2.5, P less than 0.05) with a decrease in phospholipid percentage (67.7 more or less 0.7 vs. 59.4 more or less 2.6, P less than 0.05) indicating an alteration in membrane fluidity. These findings suggest changes in EM lipids in CHD patients in spite of different pathological conditions such as age, smoking status and diabetes. The analysis of the lipid composition of EM could provide a useful tool to monitor the evolution of the CHD.

El objetivo fue analizar la composición lipídica de las membranas de eritrocitos (ME), plasma y placas ateromatosas (PA) en pacientes con enfermedad coronaria avanzada (ECV). Las PA fueron obtenidas de endarterectomías coronarias de 18 pacientes. Fueron seleccionados 10 sujetos sanos, normolipémicos, como grupo control. Los lípidos totales de PA y ME se determinaron utilizando HPTLC, y el perfil de ácidos grasos de las PA, ME y plasma mediante TLC-FID. La cantidad relativa de las especies lipídicas obtenidas de las PA coinciden con la literatura [fosfolípidos 23.5 mol% más o menos 3.5; colesterol total 68.9 mol% más o menos 7.9; triglicéridos 7.6 mol% más o menos 3.4]. En el plasma y en las ME de los pacientes con ECV se observó, comparando con los pacientes controles, una disminución de los ácidos grasos poli-no saturados acompañado de un aumento de los ácidos grasos saturados que provocó el descenso del índice de instauración (plasma: 1.67 más o menos 0.06 vs. 1.28 más o menos 0.03, P menor que 0.05; ME: 2.28 más o menos 0.04 vs. 1.25 más o menos 0.010, P menor que 0.05) y el incremento del cociente AG saturados/insaturados (plasma: 0.35 más o menso 0.02 vs. 0.52 más o menos 0.02, P menor que 0.05; ME: 0.45 más o menos 0.01 vs. 0.83 más o menos 0.04, P menor que 0.05). Estos datos indicarían una deficiencia de ácidos grasos esenciales. Se observó una elevación en los valores de colesterol total (32.3 más o menos 0.8 vs. 40.6 más o menos 2.5, P menor que 0.05) y una disminución de los valores de fosfolípidos (67.7 más o menos 0.7 vs. 59.4 más o menos 2.6, P menor que 0.05) en las ME de los pacientes con ECV. Estos hallazgos sugieren cambios en los lípidos de las ME en los pacientes con ECV a pesar de presentar diferencias con respecto a edad, tabaquismo y diabetes. El conocimiento del perfil lipídico de las ME podría constituirse en una herramienta útil para monitorear la evolución de la enfermedad.