BACKGROUND: We studied the variation in plasma content of plasmalogen and ganglioside, total cholesterol (TC), and total phospholipid (TPL) in gastric carcinoma patients. The plasma plasmalogen levels were determined according to the vinyl ester bond method.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Plasma ganglioside level was determined according to the method of Sevennerholm. The total cholesterols and total phospholipid were determined by routine methods.

RESULTS: The plasma plasmalogen level of gastric carcinoma patients was significantly higher than in the control (normal) group, and the difference was markedly significant (p<0.01). The plasma total sialic acid (TSA) and lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA) of gastric carcinoma patients were higher than those of the normal control group (p<0.05). The total cholesterol content was higher than those in the normal control group (p<0.02), but the total phospholipid content was lower than in the normal control group and the difference was markedly significant (p<0.05). In the gastric carcinoma patients group, the plasmalogen and ganglioside-TSA levels were positively correlated (r=0.01, P<0.01). Plasmalogen and total cholesterols were also positively correlated (r=0.82, P<0.01), and plasmalogen and total phospholipid were negatively correlated (r=–0.82, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: In gastric carcinoma patients, the plasma plasmalogen content was significantly elevated and was positively correlated with elevated level of gangliosides and total cholesterols, but it was negatively correlated with level of total phospholipids.

Keywords: Cholesterol - blood, Case-Control Studies, Gangliosides - blood, Phospholipids - blood, Plasmalogens - blood, Stomach Neoplasms - blood