The esterification of cholesterol in plasma after acute myocardial infarction.

The rate of plasma cholesterol esterification (LCAT activity) and the concentration of eight proteins in the plasma have been studied in the ten male patients during the course of acute myocardial infarction. Samples were drawn 22 hr, 3 days, 8 days, 2 weeks, and 7 weeks after the onset of the acute myocardial infarction. The changes of the plasma proteins were typical for the acute-phase reaction. LCAT activity decreased initially during the illness. The lowest values were found after 8 days. Concomitantly, a reducation in the plasma concentration of total and free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters was demonstrated. The rate of cholesterol esterification correlated significantly with the concentration of prealbumin, alpha-lipoprotein, and albumin. Seven weeks after onset of the infarction, the LCAT values were equal to those in a reference group. The results suggest that the synthesis of LCAT was decreased during the acute-phase reaction.