Serum lipid and apolipoprotein profiles after onset of acute myocardial infarction.

The concentrations of lipids and apolipoproteins in serum following onset of acute myocardial infarction were measured periodically in eleven patients for 28 days. Significant and sustained decrease in the concentration of HDL-cholesterol was observed by the seventh days post-infarction and remained low throughout the remainder of the study. The concentration of apo A-I and apo A-II assayed by electroimmunoassay was significantly low by 4th and 5th days post-infarction, remained low until day 10 and then began to increase but were not back to the initial values by 28 days post-infarction. Apo B, C-I, C-II, C-III, and E levels remained unchanged throughout the course. The concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides tended to fall reaching the lowest levels on day 7 and 10, but were not significant. The concentration of serum phospholipids level tended to decrease and fall significantly by day 7 and 10. The concentration of the free fatty acids in the serum was elevated during the first 2 days post-infarction and was within the normal range throughout the remainder of the study.