The changes of serum lipids and lipoproteins in patients with acute cerebral stroke

42 patients with acute cerebral stroke (average age 70, 83ą9, 95 years) were examined for fluctuations in the level of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterot and LDL-cholesterol within 24 hours after the acute event and on the eight day after the onset of symptoms. Patients did not receive specific hipolipemic drugs during the treatment. On the first day average values of serum triglyceride were 1, 97ą0, 94 ; of total cholesterol 5, 99 ą1, 91 ; of HDL-cholesterol 0, 86ą0, 35 and of LDL-cholesterol 3, 91ą1, 63 mmol/L. On the eight day average values of triglyceride were 2, 26ą2, 31 ; of total cholesterol 4, 59ą1, 49 ; of HDL-cholesterol 1, 2ą0, 54 and of LDL-cholesterol 2, 91ą1, 17 mmol/L. The results revealed a statistically significant (p<0, 05) decrease in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and statistically significaiit increase in HDL-cholesterol, while there was no statistically significant difference between levels of triglyceride. We. conclude that in patients with acute cerebral stroke, triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol is increased, due to stress and increased secretion of catecholamines. On the eight day there is decrease in serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, while HDL-cholesterol is increased. These changes are probably due to dietary changes after stroke, besides the fact that stress inducing catecholamines overproduction is no long acting.