[Serum lipids and lipoprotein in hypertension and ischemic heart disease].

Numerous reports have demonstrated that various serum lipids, especially cholesterol and triglyceride, relate to atherosclerosis. It has been accepted that atherosclerosis is one of the most frequent causes of ischemic heart disease, and many investigators have reported that the average values for the serum concentration of cholesterol and several other lipids are higher in groups of patients, who have ischemic heart disease compared with those in a group of normal persons. In this country cerebrovascular accidents following hypertension have been a leading cause of death as opposed to Western Society where deaths aree largely due to cardiac complications. In western countries hypertension was regarded as accelerating the, progress of established atherosclerosis, but among the Japanese, in whom atherosclerosis of the coronary stem is not frequently seen1), the relationship between hypertension and the atherosclerosis of coronary arteries may be not so simple or clear. The low incidence of coronary heart diseases in this country in spite of hypertension common among the Japanese may be explained from the fact that severe attack of atherosclerosis is uncommon related to the low intake of dietary fat. Since World War II, however, a change in diet has been observed among the large city population and the prevalence of coronary heart disease is reported increasing in this country.2) The aim of the investigation was to make clear the following points: 1) Are the average serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in hypertensives or subjects with ischemic heart disease higher than those of healthy controls of the comparable age? 2) Are there any differences in the lipid and lipoprotein levels among the stages of hypertension?