Alterations in levels of apolipoprotein C-III and C-II/C-III ratios in patients with liver disease.

Apolipoprotein (apo) C-III levels and relative proportions of apo C-II and apo C-III were determined in patients with liver disease in attempts to show the relationship between abnormalities in lipoprotein metabolism and liver function. The levels of apo C-III decreased in most patients with liver disease except cases with fatty liver or cholestasis. The levels of apo C-III correlated with some liver function parameters such as albumin but not with triglyceride concentrations. The C-II/C-III ratios were higher in patients with liver disease, a decrease in apo C-III-1 being most prominent. Estimation of the levels of apo C-II suggested that the C-II levels would not be impaired in most of patients with liver disease, despite a decrease in apo C-III levels.