Abstract
Lipoprotein-X, a low density lipoprotein containing lecithin and free cholesterol, appears in the circulation of infants maintained on total parenteral nutrition within 16 hrs of Intralipid infusion, suggesting that the clearing mechanism of lecithin (present in Intralipid) is not well developed at birth. We have therefore quantitated the activity of the key enzyme in lecithin catabolism, lecithin-cholesterol acyl trasferase (LCAT) in cord blood of 173 infants. LCAT activity, measured by transesterification of 3H-fatty acid from lecithin to cholesterol, is expressed in nmol cholesterol esterified/ml serum/hr. Cord blood levels of cholesterol, lecithin and triglycerides were also measured. LGAT levels were significantly (p 0.001) lower in newborns than in adults: 43±10, 54±19. 101±29 and 290±36 (Mean+SEM) at 24-30(n=19), 31-35(n = 17), 36-40(n = 137) wks gestation and in adults (n=7), respectively. Cord blood cholesterol, lecithin and triglyceride levels were similar at all gestational ages. We conclude that the clearing of lecithin is inefficient at birth and that preterm infants have a higher incidence of hyperlipemia due to low LCAT activity. (Supported by NIH grant HD-15631).
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Papadopoulos, A., Hamosh, M., Scanlon, J. et al. 1475 LIPID CLEARING IN PREMATURE INFANTS: LECITHIN-CHOLESTEROL ACYL TRANSFERASE ACTIVITY. Pediatr Res 19, 356 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01499
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01499
