The effect of hepatitis B on plasma cholesterol and sterol balance

A patient with hepatitis B was studied by cholesterol balance technics throughout 29 days of the incubation period, the entire preicteric phase (49 days) and 15 days into the icteric phase. As hepatic inflammation developed, the plasma cholesterol concentration declined, reaching 56 per cent of its base line level before the onset of jaundice. Fecal bile acids diminished slightly whereas fecal neutral steroids were unchanged. As jaundice developed, the plasma cholesterol level rose abruptly and fecal bile acid excretion decreased markedly. This report suggests that plasma cholesterol is diminished by hepatitis prior to the development of icterus. Cholesterol synthesis is probably decreased.