An incomplete form of familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency presenting with type I hyperlipoproteinemia

The author reports the case of a patient with an incomplete form of familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency associated with type I hyperlipoproteinemia manifesting an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. The patient presented with hepatosplenomegaly, abdominal pain, and fasting chylomicronemia. A Western diet elicited a steep increase in plasma triglyceride concentration and the appearance of floating chylomicrons over a clear infranatant in fasting plasma. Postheparin lipoprotein lipase activity was moderately reduced to 38% of control values. Adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity was 10% of normal, whereas his muscle enzyme activity was within the reference range. Two-dimensional electrophoresis of plasma apolipoproteins revealed the presence of normal activator (apolipoprotein C-II). These results confirm the importance of the adipose tissue enzyme for the clearance of diet-derived plasma triglycerides.