Serum lipoproteins in asymptomatic acute porphyria: no evidence for hyperbetalipoproteinemia.

Hypercholesterolemia and elevated LDL cholesterol have previously been reported to be associated with acute porphyria. We therefore carried out a systematic study on serum lipoprotein levels in asymptomatic patients with acute porphyria. In 15 patients with acute intermittent porphyria and in seven with variegate porphyria, the total serum cholesterol as well as VLDL- and LDL-cholesterol concentrations did not differ from those of matched controls. On the other hand, the mean HDL-cholesterol concentration was significantly higher in patients with porphyria than in controls. Total serum triglycerides and triglycerides in various lipoproteins were normal in patients with porphyria. In contrast to earlier reports, we could not find increase of LDL cholesterol in asymptomatic acute porphyria. The results suggest that elevated HDL-cholesterol levels might occur in this group of porphyrias.