Prolonged Observations of the Cardiovascular Status in Essential Hyperlipemia

Abstract

Study of the natural course of essential hyperlipemia discloses that this disease is frequently associated with premature atherosclerosis. It is, therefore, our contention that we can no longer regard essential hyperlipemia as a benign disease. Heparin administered intravenously to patients with essential hyperlipemia produces dramatic though transient lowering of total lipids. This is due predominantly to heparin's effect upon neutral fat. Normal controls show no significant differences in their lipid response to heparin, though of course the degree of these changes is comparatively smaller.