Objective: To explore the serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA).
Methods: From July 2009 to June 2014, a total of 62 MSA patients from the neurology department of our hospital were enrolled as the case group and 63 healthy individuals were enrolled as control group. The serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins were compared between two groups and also analyzed according to gender, age and disease subtypes.
Results: Compared with the healthy controls, abnormal rates of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoproteins A (ApoA) and apolipoproteins B (ApoB) in MSA patients were decreased significantly (P<0.01), while there is no difference of abnormal rates in TC, TG and LDL-C. Compared with the healthy controls, the serum total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-C, ApoA and ApoB levels in MSA patients were decreased significantly (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in TG levels. Compared with female MSA patients, the serum TG and LDL-C in male MSA patients were decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with male controls, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, ApoA and ApoB levels of male MSA patients were decreased significantly (P<0.05) whilst there was no significant difference in TG level (P>0.05). Compared with female controls, the serum TC,TG, HDL-C, ApoA and ApoB levels in female MSA patients were decreased significantly (P<0.05) whilst there was no significant difference in LDL-C (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in lipid levels between elder patients (age over 65) and younger patients (age under 65) (P>0.05). Also no significant difference existed between type C and type P of MSA (P>0.05). No significant relationship between course of disease and lipids was found (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Serum levels of TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, ApoA and ApoB are decreased in MSA patients but all lipid levels are not related to either disease course or subtype, which may indicate that lipids levels are related to the pathogenesis of MSA.