Some physiological and clinical implications of lipid mobilization from adipose tissue 1

Pronounced dyslipoproteinemia in intensive care patients

Concentrations of triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol in serum and in lipoproteins were determined in two groups of intensive care patients. Group I included 17 moderately ill, postelective surgery patients, and group II, 23 critically ill patients. All were studied in an intensive care situation. The lipoprotein lipid concentrations were compared with those from a group of healthy men and women. In group I, both TG and cholesterol concentrations in serum were decreased, whereas in group II, only cholesterol concentration was lowered and the TG concentration was close to control values. In the lipoproteins, marked abnormalities were found. The most striking was an increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL)-TG and a decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentrations. In group II, 5/18 males had a LDL-TG concentration above any control value and 21/23 had a HDL-cholesterol concentration below any value in the control group. In addition, the alpha-lipoprotein (HDL) band on electrophoresis was often grossly abnormal with a broad or double-peaked band. There was a highly significant negative correlation between LDL-TG and HDL-cholesterol concentrations. Patients who received conventional treatment with insulin or heparin had similar lipid concentrations as those not given these drugs. The time effect on lipoprotein changes was analyzed in 11 patients, from whom samples were drawn repeatedly during the intensive care period. A tendency was found for LDL-TG to increase and HDL-cholesterol to decrease with time. The mechanisms causing the lipoprotein changes are not presently known; however, possible explanations include liver function impairment, gastrointestinal tract paralysis, physical inactivity, the catabolic state as such, and combinations.

[Differences in postoperative metabolism in reference to pre- and postoperative initiation of total parenteral nutrition. I]

We investigated the postoperative metabolism of patients undergoing gastric resection by beginning total parenteral nutrition pre- (group 1) and postoperatively (group 2). A third group remained fasting until 3 h after the surgical intervention. Because of the high serum glucose concentrations and the high glucose losses in the 24-h urine on the operation day in group 1 and 2 only the base glucose requirement (150--250 g/24/h) should be given in the early postoperative period. The low blood glucose concentration in group 3 and the elevated lactate values in group 2 underline this recommandation. Compared with group 2 and 3, group 1 had low free fatty acid concentrations of 250 micronVal/l because of the continuous pre-, intra-, and postoperative infusion. Compared with normal metabolic conditions, the free fatty acids do not seem to have the same insulin-antagonizing effect in the posttraumatic state. The fall of cholesterol after the surgical trauma reached its maximum after 12--15 h and amounted to about 40 mg% in the first two groups. Albumin and total protein fell continuously in group 1 and 2. The electrophoresis in group 1 showed a rise of alpha 1- and alpha 2-globulin to more than double the initial value, the beta-globulin showed only slight changes, the gamma-globulin dropped only slightly up to the 4th postoperative day. As a sign of an augmented catabolism the serum urea concentration rose during the postoperative state. Group 1 and 2 had a favourable nitrogen balance. The postoperative bilirubin rise could be held lower in group 1 compared to group 2.