ABSTRACT
There are mainly four neutral glycosphingolipids in human blood plasma: Monohexosyl, dihexosyl, trihexosyl and tetrahexosyl ceramide. In patients with viral hepatitis (n=21) during the acute phase all four fractions of plasma glycosphingolipids were elevated compared to healthy subjects (n=23). With the exception of trihexosyl ceramide all fractions demonstrated statistically striking elevations in the acute phase of viral hepatitis. Simultaneously in the acute phase of hepatitis triglycerides and cholesterol in serum were significantly increased. It is concluded the elevation of glycosphingolipid levels in plasma is a metabolic consequence of hyperlipoproteinemia. Furthermore it is supposed that a part of plasma glycosphingolipids is synthezised de novo by the liver like VLDL.
