Plasma estrogens and hepatic lipase in postheparin plasma with special reference to liver disease.

Hepatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase activity in postheparin plasma, plasma total estrogens (estradiol and estrone) and triglycerides were studied in patients with various liver disorders and in a reference group. The activity of hepatic lipase was not correlated to the estrogen level either in patients or in healthy controls. Peroral administration of estradiol valeriate to healthy females resulted, however, in a selective decline in hepatic lipase activity. A slight and not significant reduction was also observed in three infertile women after administration of follitropin (FSH) for a short period. The plasma concentration of estrogens did not correlate with the levels of plasma triglycerides and the relative content of triglycerides in low density lipoproteins either in patients or the controls. Lipase inhibition mediated by increase in estrogens therefore does not seem to exaplin the hypertriglyceridemia observed in patients with liver disease.