Changes in plasma lipoproteins in Mediterranean boutonneuse fever

: We report 25 cases of boutonneuse fever with, in the acute phase, an increase of plasma transaminases, triglycerides and apoprotein B levels, a decrease of total, HDL and LDL cholesterol and a decrease of apoprotein A. These changes disappeared 1 to 4 weeks after the beginning of treatment. They might be due to a reduced activity of lecithin-cholesterol acetyltransferase and lipoprotein lipase, probably caused by the hepatic and vascular disorders frequently found in this disease.