[Free hydroxyproline content of the blood serum in patients with coronary arteriosclerosis].

In 47 patients with atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries the concentration of the blood serum free oxyproline was up by comparison with the normal figure and it depended not so much on the stage of the disease, but rather upon the character of hyperlipoproteinemia. A higher oxyproline concentration was revealed in the blood serum of patients presenting the IIb and IV types of hyperlipoproteinemia. The results of experimental investigations suggest that the activation of the glucocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex in patients with atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries results in a more intensive catabolism of the vascular wall collagen and in attending it rise of the blood serum free oxyproline concentration.