Low Levels of HDL in Severe Cystic Acne

To the Editor: An inverse relation between high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and the prevalence of coronary heart disease has been reported.123 Current knowledge of the factors that determine the concentration of plasma HDL is limited, although a number of conditions have been identified that are associated with decreased levels of HDL.4 In 12 males between 16 and 27 years of age with cystic acne of grade 8 according to Cook et al.5 we observed isolated low levels of HDL cholesterol and apoprotein A in the presence of normal levels of plasma total cholesterol and triglycerides. Levels of HDL cholesterol and. © 1982, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.