Relation of Lipolysis to Deturbidification and Returbidification in Heparin-Induced Lipemia-Clearing Phenomenon. ∗

Summary and Conclusions

During the clearing of lipemic serum or coconut oil emulsion by postheparin plasma in vitro release of free fatty acid occurs. During the initial portion of the reaction there is an essentially linear relation between the release of free fatty acid and the decrease in turbidity. Later, release of free fatty acid continues but decrease in turbidity stops or returbidification occurs. Pancreatic lipase may be substituted for postheparin plasma to produce clearing of lipemic serum or coconut oil emulsion and a similar relation between lipolysis and turbidity is found in these systems. The increased lipolytic activity of post-heparin plasma differs from pancreatic lipase in that it is inhibited rather than activated by sodium desoxycho-late. The returbidification which sometimes follows clearing is probably due to calcium soap formation because it can be prevented by removal of calcium with oxalate and it can be simulated by addition of sodium soap to plasma. 2. It is concluded that the in vitro lipemia clearing activity of post-heparin plasma can be quantitatively accounted for on the basis of its lipolytic activity.