A new electrophoresis of
lipoproteins was examined as a means of defining
hyperlipoproteinemia phenotypes. The serum
lipoproteins of 119 patients with
hyperlipoproteinemia whose serum total
cholesterol (TC) concentration was more than 250 mg and/or whose
triglyceride (TG) concentration exceeded 180 mg per 100 ml were determined by using a method of electrophoretic separation of
lipoproteins on
agarose and enzymic staining of each
lipid component separately. Based on the
lipoprotein-
lipid profile with the
acid of various parameters for distinction, i.e., Type II A,
LDL-C greater than or equal to 180 mg/dl: Type IV, VLDL-TG greater than or equal to 130 mg/dl: type II B,
LDL-C greater than or equal to 130 mg/dl, 119 patients were classified into Fredrickson's phenotypes of
hyperlipoproteinemia. The percentages of phenotypes with those
hyperlipoproteinemias were: type II A, 31.1%; II B, 33.6; IV, 29.4%; and V, 5.9% respectively. But types I and III were not observed in this survey. The characteristics of the
lipoprotein profiles of each phenotype were clearly identified, and they were: type II A, high peak
LDL-C and decrease of HDL-C fraction; II B, high peak of
LDL-C and VLDL-TG; IV, high peak of VLDL-TG; V, prominence of
chylomicrons and high VLDL-TG peak. The serial observations of the
lipoprotein-
lipid profiles were very useful for detecting the progressive changes in
lipoproteins which occurred during the course of diseases, particularly in cases of secondary
hyperlipoproteinemia. In conclusion, the new
lipoprotein-
lipid profile based on the
agarose electrophoresis-enzymic staining method not only offers great help in classification of
hyperlipoproteinemia but has contributed to therapeutic management.