Plasma lipoproteins and monocyte-macrophages in a peroxisome-deficient system: Study of a patient with infantile refsum disease

Hypocholesterolaemia in infantile Refsum disease (IRD) may link peroxisomes and lipoprotein metabolism. In our patient, plasma cholesterol levels were reduced to 26% and 29% of control in LDL and HDL fractions, respectively. Plasma apolipoproteins B-100 and A-I levels were 52% and 66% of controls, respectively. In the kindred, plasma cholesterol concentration was 61–73% of controls. The HDL-cholesterol/apo A-I ratios were: patient 0.12; kindred 0.17; controls 0.28.