EVOLUTION OF LIPOPROTEIN PATTERNS IN NEWBORNS

. Van Biervliet, J. P., Vercaemst, R., De Keersgieter, W., Vinaimont, N., Caster, H. and Rosseneu, M. (Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Jan, Brugge, Belgium). Evolution of lipoprotein patterns in newborns. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69: 593, 1980. —The plasma levels of total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and of the major apolipoproteins (apo B and apo A-I) were studied in 30 newborns, on cord blood and after 7 and 30 days of life. The evolution of these parameters during the first month of life shows that newborns have low LDL cholesterol and apo B levels at birth, which increase drastically during the first week and remain constant between 7 and 30 days. The HDL cholesterol and apo A-I levels are proportionally high at birth and keep increasing slowly up to 30 days. During this period, the cholesterol/apoprotein ratio remains constant in the LDL and HDL class. These data suggest that lipid and apoprotein levels at 7 days are more representative than cord-blood levels and more meaningful for a screening of congenital hypercholesterolemia. The cholesterol/apo B and apo B/apo A-I ratios, which are considered to be better predictive factors for atherosclerosis, should be included as screening parameters.