[Cholesterol in the blood and bile]

In a prospective study serum and bile cholesterol concentrations were examined in 233 patients with gallstones. The objective of the study was the selection of patients in which conservative dissolution of gallstones might be successful. The average concentration of cholesterol in serum was 227,46 +/- 41,64 mg/100 ml, in gallbladder bile 8,83 +/- 5,66 mg/100 ml. The cholesterol contents of gallstones was 73,47 +/- 19,47 per cent. Statistical relations were found neither between the cholesterol concentrations in serum and bile nor between the cholesterol contents of gallstones and the cholesterol concentrations in serum and bile. The postoperative cholesterol concentration in serum was remarkably diminished as compared with preoperative values in all patients. A statistically significant decrease of serum cholesterol was seen in patients with histologically proven fatty liver disease. Measuring the cholesterol concentration in serum is no appropriate way for the selection of patients with gallstones for a litholytic treatment. It should be evaluated whether a concomitant fatty liver disease is an indication for a therapeutic trial with chenodesoxycholic acid.