This study reports lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in postpolio patients seen in our postpolio clinic who were evaluated for complaints of progressive weakness, fatigue, and/or pain. Concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) were determined after an overnight fast. Sixty-four patients (24 men and 40 women) with a mean age of 48 +/- 10 years were studied. Mean (+/- SD) lipid concentrations (mg/dL) for men and women, respectively, were 220 +/- 46 and 213 +/- 43 for TC; 38.5 +/- 8.6 and 59.1 +/- 18.1 for HDL-C; 148 +/- 46 and 129 +/- 36 for LDL-C; and 205 +/- 107 and 105 +/- 55 for TG. Hyperlipidemia was found in 16 of 24 men and 10 of 40 women. In the men, mean HDL-C concentration was in the lowest decile of our hospital laboratory's reference range, whereas mean TC/HDL-C ratio was elevated above the recommended value. It is suggested that lipid and lipoprotein concentrations be evaluated in postpolio patients because a high prevalence of lipid/lipoprotein disorders was found in our subjects. Further research is needed on this topic.