RESUMO
Thirty patients with Buerger's disease aged between 27- 45 years, and 30 other patients with atherosclerosis aged between 49-70 years were studied for their lipid profile compared to two corresponding control groups of similar age and sex. Total lipids and triglycerides concentrations were significantly increased in the sera of all atherosclerosis patients and exhibited normal levels in the sera of Buerger's disease, while total phospholipids, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and lipid peroxides were increased in both Buerger's and atherosclerotic patients. Sphingomyelin increased in Buerger's disease and decreased in atherosclerosis, Lysolecithin did not change in Buerger's disease but decreased in atherosclerosis. On the contrary, phosphatidyl choline decreased in Buerger's disease and did not change in atherosclerosis. However total cholesterol did not change significantly in both diseased groups. The aforementioned findings could be used as diagnostic parameters for Buerger's disease and as a discrimination tool to differentiate between Buerger's disease and atherosclerosis