Background: Hyperalphalipoproteinemia is associated with cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) deficiency in adults but has unclear associations in children.
Methods: We measured lipoproteins in 19 heterozygotes (D442G, n=17; I14A, n=2), one D442G/I14A compound heterozygote, 13 non-affected siblings, and 30 healthy controls at birth, 3-4 months, and 12 months.
Results: CETP mass was 32-70% lower in heterozygotes than in controls throughout the year. Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was lower in heterozygotes than in controls by 30, 20, and 15% at birth, 3-4 months, and 12 months, respectively. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was similar among the groups at birth, but was 10% higher in heterozygotes compared with controls at 3-4 and 12 months. ApoE-rich HDL-C was similar between the two groups at birth, but was 50% higher in heterozygotes than in controls at 3-4 and 12 months. These lipoprotein profile characteristics were prominent in the compound heterozygote but were not found in non-affected siblings. In heterozygotes, CETP mass correlated positively with LDL-C but negatively with HDL-C at 3-4 and 12 months.
Conclusion: CETP is a determinant for LDL-C and HDL-C in CETP-deficient individuals in the first year of life.