Arachidonic acid levels in serum phospholipids of patients with angina pectoris or fatal myocardial infarction

The fatty acid composition and concentrations of serum phospholipids (PL) were examined in 14 normal subjects (NS), 10 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and stable angina pectoris, and in 12 patients with acute, fatal myocardial infarction (MI). The NS and patients with CHD and stable angina pectoris were matched with respect to age, height, body weight, blood pressure and serum cholesterol. Serum PL of patients with CHD and of patients with acute, fatal MI contained significantly more arachidonic acid (20:4n6, AA) than serum PL of the NS. Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3, DHA) was also increased in serum PL of patients with acute, fatal MI. AA and DHA levels in serum PL reflect changes in lipid metabolism that may relate to the cause and/or consequences of CHD.