Primary Brain Tumours and Lipids

Abstract

The values of many biochemical parameters undergo changes to a certain degree in neoplastic conditions; serum lipids are some of those whose levels may be altered.The Teaching Hospital at Kadhimiyah (THK) and The Neurosurgical Hospital (Nl 1) in Baghdad.A prospective study to investigate the serum lipid profile of a group of Iraqi patients suffering from primary brain tumours (PBT) and to compare it with healthy volunteers.This study had been conducted between November 2000 and October 2001. Patients were evaluated by full medical history to exclude any existing systemic disease that may affect the parameters to be diagnosed, particularly diabetes, liver disease, renal disease and chronic drug intake, otherwise the patient would have been excluded from the study.One hundred and seven patients harboring clinically and histologically diagnosed PBT, qualified for the study. Their age ranged between 2-75 years, 56 males and 51 females. Blood samples were collected allcr 10-12 hours of fasting that had followed a light dinner the night before; the serum lipids were analysed using the enzymatic method.Forty age- and sex-matched normal subjects were used as controls.The present study demonstrated a variable changes among circulating lipids; a highly significant increase in serum cholesterol of patients was noticed in comparison to that of normal subjects; the same finding was observed in serum LDL. On the other hand, a high decrease in ..crum HDL and TG was observed.The levels of the most common serum lipids do change in patients with PBT. Brain tumour cells may manufacture their requirements from lipids. Our results are in agreement with the findings of few other researchers investigating lipids in neoplastic conditions. It is recommended that further studies similar to the present study to be conducted on a larger scale in order to find whether therapeutic measures may need to be implemented to correct such abnormalities that may have untoward consequences on patients' health.