Fasting plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol(TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C), activities of erythrocyte membrane Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase, and intraerythrocytic calcium concentration were examined in 21 patients with coronary heart disease(CHD) and 21 normal controls. It was found that the plasma contents of TG, TC, LDL-C and intraerythrocytic [Ca2+] in patients with CHD were much higher while plasma contents of HDL-C, activities of erythrocyte membrane Na(+)-K(+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPase were much lower than those of normal controls. Mg(2+)-ATPase activity showed no significant difference between these two groups. The activities of erythrocyte membrane Na(+)-K(+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPase were negatively correlated with plasma TG, TC, LDL-C levels, respectively, and positively correlated with plasma HDL-C. The possible pathogenic mechanism is discussed on the basis of our results.