The beta-lipoprotein doublet in type 3 hyperlipoproteinemia.

We used a previously reported agarose-gel electrophoresis system to study the lipoprotein patterns in patients with type 3 hyperlipoproteinemia. All samples from 20 subjects tested revealed the presence of two bands with beta-lipoprotein mobility, irrespective of quantitative changes in plasma lipids induced by diet or by the administration of drugs. If these observations are confirmed, the method will permit the diagnosis of type 3 hyperlipoproteinemia without resort to preparative ultracentrifugation and chemical measurement of the very-low-density lipoproteins.