THE PHOSPHATIDES OF HUMAN PLASMA. II. ABNORMALITIES ENCOUNTERED IN THE NEPHROTIC SYNDROME*

Abstract

Analysis of the 3 major plasma phosphatides of patients with the nephrotic syndrome by quantitative paper chromatography reveals that an abnormal pattern is present, consisting of a higher proportion of lysolecithin and sphingomyelin and a lower proportion of lecithin. Phosphatide analysis of ultracentrifugal density fractions of 5 samples showed the abnormality to lie at density < 1.063. In 10 plasmas, all of the above changes were found; in 12 plasmas, 1 or 2 of the changes were found, while in 2 plasmas, a normal pattern prevailed. The degree of abnormality was not related to levels of total lipid, cholesterol, or lipid phosphorus, or to the clinical state, except that it tended to be most pronounced in untreated cases of "lipoid nephrosis" without glomerular disease as indicated by light microscopy of biopsy specimens.