Variations in the composition of low- and high-density lipoproteins during the acute phase of myocardial infarction

We analyzed correlations between apolipoprotein B (apo B), cholesterol and phospholipids (preponderant lipids) in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) as well as between apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1) and these same lipids in high-density lipoproteins (HDL), during the acute phase of myocardial infarction. In LDL, a very elevated and stable correlation (r) was observed between these parameters, and the coefficients of regression (b) did not differ significantly during the period studied. In HDL, there was a decrease in r and b values from day 1 to day 2, then an increase after day 2. We hypothesize that these disturbances in HDL composition may be due to a greater endocytosis of LDL at day 2, leading to intracellular increase in cholesterol and phospholipids. Part of these lipids could be taken up by HDL molecules, causing a transient overload.