The etiology of idiopathic necrosis of the femoral head in adults is unknown and controversial.
In 1965 it was hypothesized by Jones that excessive corticosteroid and alcohol might induce the formation of fatty liver, with possible subsequent systemic fat embolism, infarction of bone and eventual aseptic necrosis. The Cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid levels were investigated in 65 patients with idiopathic necrosis of the femoral head to select patients with hyperlipoproteinemia. Twenty nine of the 65 patients had hyperlipoproteinemia. They were classified by disc electrophoresis. Eleven of them were in type IIa, 16 in type IIb, and 2 in type IV.
A definite correlation between idiopathic necrosis of the femoral head and hyperlipoproteinemia was found, while no relationship between diseases associated with idiopathic necrosis of the femoral head and certain types of hyperlipoproteinemia was established.