The lipid levels of serum and lipoproteins were examined in eleven patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) and ten normal subjects. Hyperlipoproteinemia was seen in six patients, including type IIb of three patients, type IIa of two and type V of one. Total cholesterol (C) and triglyceride (TG) levels of serum and lipoproteins in MD were not significant. TG/C ratio of lipoproteins in MD were not so high compared with normals.
The mean age of the patients with hyperlipoproteinemia was significantly higher than that of normolipoproteinemia. The correlation coefficients between age and lipid levels of serum and lipoproteins were examined. The age was positively correlated to serum C and VLDL-TG levels. Further, in the MD patients except for case 1 with type V hyperlipoproteinemia, the age was positively correlated to LDL-TG and LDL-C levels, and negatively correlated to HDL-TG levels.
In conclusion, the LDL levels increased and the HDL levels decreased with age in MD. These results suggest that the abnormalities of serum lipid metabolism is one of the characteristic changes in MD.