Abstract
It has been reported that abnormal composition of serum lipids in patients with liver disease is associated with changes in erythrocyte membrane lipid composition. We speculate that similar changes may occur in other blood cells and impair their functions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the lipid composition of serum and erythrocyte membrane in patients with congenital biliary atresia (CBA). The serum was enriched in free cholesterol (FC) and phospholipids (PL) . Serum fatty acid compostion was abnormal, but the pattern of essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) was not observed. The erythrocyte membrane was also rich in FC. Phospholipid composition was also abnormal. The proportion of phosphatidylethanolamine was decreased and that of phosphatidylcholine was increased. The fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane was not indicative of EFAD, but was abnormal. There was a significant correlation between serum FC and that of erythrocyte membrane. In conclusion, it is suggested that the membrane fluidity may be decreased by FC enrichment and changes of PL composition and that similar changes may be found in polymorphonuclear leukocyte and other cells in CBA patients.
