IBD Patients Show Lipid Profile Changes

CLEVELANDInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) might have a negative effect on lipid profiles, relative to patient gender, according to new research from the Division of Gastroenterology at MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland. Published in the November-December issue of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology (2010;4(6):478-82), the study was based on the premise that an increase in inflammatory cytokines, as occurs in IBD patients, may result in a decrease in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) enzyme activity, which can increase triglycerides and decrease high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, a trend reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Researchers reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with IBD (Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]) at an academic medical center between 2000 and 2007; they specifically looked at records for lipoprotein lipid measurements, serum albumin levels, risk factors, and treatment to modify lipoprotein concentrations. They only included patients with documented IBD diagnosis and lipoprotein profiles in the study, and they used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006 population database for control values.

A total of 393 patients (152 men and 241 women) diagnosed with IBD (188 CD and 205 UC) who were not on statins qualified for the study and were grouped on the basis of gender (male and female) and IBD disease type (CD and UC). Total cholesterol and HDL-C were significantly lower and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides were significantly greater in male patients with IBD, compared with male NHANES samples (similar mean age and body mass index). Similarly, mean values for total cholesterol, HDL-C, and triglycerides were significantly lower and LDL-C significantly higher in female IBD patients, compared with the female NHANES samples.