[Fatty acid composition of triglycerides in inflammatory liver diseases in diabetics with and without hyperlipoproteinemia].

In 228 patients with diabetes mellitus (130 diabetics without and 98 diabetics with hyperlipoproteinaemia) percutaneous liver punctures after Menghini as well as biopsies of the subcutaneous fatty tissue were carried out. From the biopsy specimens and from serum the fatty acid pattern of triglycerides was estimated. In 87 patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis and 37 patients with fibrosis no differences in the fatty acid composition could be found. According to the present findings there was no evidence of alterations in the supply of individual fatty acids caused by chronic hepatitis per se. However, it is to be taken into consideration that simultaneous liver steatosis can provoke marked changes in the fatty acid pattern of liver triglycerides. The best reference seems to be the size of the fat droplet in the hepatocytes. Its rise is associated with an increase of palmitic and oleic acid, whereas the percentage of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid is decreased. It must be clarified by further studies, whether this reveals a general pathophysiological phenomenon or is restricted to diabetic subjects.