[Atherogenic properties of sera and low-density lipoproteins in patients with diabetes mellitus].

The effects of sera and low density lipoproteins (LDL) on cholesterol levels were evaluated in cultured aortic intimal cells from patients with Types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus. About 80% Type 1 diabetic patients' sera and 90% of Type 2 diabetic patients' sera caused a 1.5-4-fold increase in intracellular cholesterol levels. LDL isolated from atherogenic sera induced intracellular cholesterol accumulation. There was a close correlation between the atherogenic effect of the sera and LDL. The atherogenic properties of the sera and LDL from patients with diabetes mellitus were unassociated with the examinees' age. There was a relationship between the atherogenic serum effect and the compensation of carbohydrate metabolism in male patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. The atherogenic effect of the sera and LDL failed to increase in patients with Types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus concurrent with coronary heart disease. The property of the sera to accumulate intracellular cholesterol is likely to be typical of diabetes mellitus and mainly due to disturbed LDL metabolism.