Severe acquired hypocholesterolemia: two case reports

We present two case reports from different institutions that emphasize two distinct aspects of severe acquired hypocholesterolemia. The first case report discusses the issue of malabsorption in a man with systemic lupus erythematosus and bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel. The second case report examines the data on metabolic abnormalities associated with severe illness that appear to be independent of digestion and absorption. These two cases serve to alert the physician that severe hypocholesterolemia is a portentous finding that may be associated both with a wide variety of diseases and with a high mortality rate. Successful therapy of the underlying diseases may lead to correction of the hypocholesterolemia.