[Changes in the lipid pattern in acute myocardial infarction].

This study comprised 20 patients who were hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction 0.5-12.5 hours after onset of chest pain. Lipid and lipoprotein values during the first seven days after the infarction were compared with the values three months later in order to assess whether lipid analysis in the acute phase provides sufficiently representative values to recommend dietary or medical intervention. Total cholesterol on admission was similar to the control value, but was significantly reduced during subsequent days. Triglyceride concentrations in the acute phase did not differ from the control value, but HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were significantly lower than in the control sample. The HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio on admission was similar to the control ratio, but was significantly reduced when analyzed later. Thus, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio on admission are representative, and are useful as a basis for intervention, provided that the delay from onset of infarction until hospitalization does not exceed 12.5 hours.