Conversion of the Electrophoretic Pattern of Type IV Hyperlipidaemia to Type III by Intravenous Heparin

Abstract
Heparin was given i.v. to subjects with type IV hyperlipoproteinemia who had only ordinary pre-.beta. lipoproteins and no late pre-.beta. lipoproteins (LP-.beta.) in their very low density lipoproteins (VLDL, d < 1.006) upon agarose gel lipoprotein electrophoresis. Within 15 min the electrophoretic pattern of VLDL changed completely. The normal pre-.beta. lipoproteins disappeared and a discrete LP-.beta. lipoprotein appeared. This new electrophoretic pattern, induced 15 min after heparin, is similar to that diagnostic of type III hyperlipoproteinemia. The LP-.beta. lipoproteins possibly represent an end stage in the catabolism of VLDL.