[HDL cholesterol lipoprotein levels and the atherogenicity coefficient in males with diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease].

A hundred males aged 40-69 years receiving treatment at the Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Hormone Chemistry for type I and II diabetes mellitus were examined. Thirty-eight patients had coronary heart disease (CHD). The diagnosis of CHD was based on the data of the WHO Cardiological Questionnaire and the presence of ECG changes corresponding to the categories of the Minnesota Code 1-1,2,7; 4-1,2 and 5-1,2 (without 3-1,3). The blood levels of total cholesterol (CS), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and the atherogenicity coefficient (AC) were determined in all patients. The results of the study showed that males with diabetes mellitus irrespective of its type or the presence of CHD had significantly higher mean values of total CS, TG and AC than in control. The mean levels of HDLC in males with type I diabetes mellitus without CHD did not differ from those in normal subjects whereas the level of HDLC in patients with type II diabetes mellitus was lowered. The patients with CHD showed a significant decrease in HDLC in both type I and II diabetes. The highest mean values of TG, AC and the lowest levels of HDLC were characteristic of the males with type II diabetes mellitus and CHD.