Objective To verify the in vivo status of chylomicron metabolism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since there is a high incidence of atherosclerosis in this disease and chylomicrons may have an important role in atherogenesis. Methods A chylomicron‐like emulsion labeled with ¹⁴C‐cholesteryl esters and ³H‐triglycerides was injected intravenously into 10 female patients with inactive SLE and 10 healthy age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects to determine the plasma kinetics of the emulsion lipids from consecutive plasma samples taken at regular intervals for 1 hour. Lipolytic activity was determined in vitro after incubation of the labeled emulsion with postheparin plasma. Results The decay curves for the emulsion were markedly slowed in SLE. Chylomicron lipolysis, indicated by the fractional clearance rate (FCR) of emulsion ³H‐triglyceride, was 2‐fold smaller in SLE patients than in controls (mean ± SD 0.023 ± 0.011 versus 0.047 ± 0.015 minute⁻¹; P = 0.010). Chylomicron removal, indicated by emulsion ¹⁴C‐cholesteryl ester FCR, was 3‐fold smaller in SLE patients than in controls (0.007 ± 0.007 versus 0.023 ± 0.011 minute⁻¹; P = 0.009). In vitro lipolysis in SLE patients was nearly half that of the controls (mean ± SD 10,199 ± 2,959 versus 6,598 ± 2,215; P = 0.014). Higher levels of very‐low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides and lower levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A‐I were also observed in the SLE patients. Conclusion SLE patients have disturbances in chylomicron metabolism that are characterized by decreased lipolysis and chylomicron remnant removal from the plasma. This finding, together with other alterations in lipid profiles that were confirmed in the present study, is largely accountable for the accelerated atherosclerotic process of the disease.

Several drug delivery systems have been proposed to overcome physiological barriers, improving ocular bioavailability. Systemic routes are seldom used due to the blood-ocular barrier. Novel drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology techniques have been developed to overcome ocular physiological barriers. This non-systematic review suggests the utilization of a transitory blood-ocular breakdown to allow the access of drugs by nanotechnology drug delivery systems via the systemic route. We discuss the possible ways to cause the breakdown of the blood-ocular barrier: acute inflammation caused by intraocular surgery, induced ocular hypotony, and the use of inflammatory mediators. The suitability of use of the systemic route and its toxic effects are also discussed in this article.