In this report, we compared lipid and lipoprotein levels between two groups with and without gouty arthritis matching the uric acid levels. There was no difference in age, percent of ideal body weight or blood pressure between these two groups. Serum total -cholesterol and (VLDL + LDL)-cholesterol levels were slightly lower in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group, while serum triglyceride and HDL - cholesterol levels showed no difference between two groups. The subjects were divided into two groups with regard to serum uric acid concentrations, (>=, or <8.0 mg/dl). In the group with high serum uric acid values, there was no difference in serum lipids and lipoproteins, whereas in the group with low values, totalcholesterol and (VLDL + LDL) - cholesterol levels were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group (195+39mg/dl vs 214+48mg/dl and 142 +38mg/dl vs 162+47mg/dl respectively). In contrast, serum triglyceride and HDL- cholesterol levels were similar between symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. We further divided subjects into five subgroups according to serum uric acid levels and found that the difference of both total - cholesterol and (VLDL + LDL) -cholesterol between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects were more prominent in the lower uric acid group. Our findings support the concept that apoprotein B - containing lipoproteins (VLDL and LDL) are involved in the inhibition of gouty arthritis.
