Clinical, biochemical and histological analysis of seven patients with cholesteryl ester storage disease

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) deficiency leads to two phenotypically different diseases: cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) and Wolman's disease. Lysosomal acid lipase hydrolyzes cholesteryl esters and triglycerides. Deficiency of LAL results in intralysosomal storage of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides. CESD has a chronic and benign course and is characterized by hepatomegaly and mild hypercholesterolemia. It leads to fibrosis (cirrhosis) and early atherosclerosis. This report presents the clinical, biochemical and microscopic data of seven patients with CESD followed up over 10 years. The physical development of all the study children remained within the normal range; 7 patients had hepatomegaly and 6 also had splenomegaly. Three patients had normal cholesterol, triglycerides and transaminases values; the other four had slightly elevated levels for these parameters. The activity of LAL in all patients was reduced to below 30% of the lower normal value. Histologically, cholesteryl crystals and lipid storage vacuoles in Kupffer cells were present in all examined patients except one. Accumulation of cholesteryl esters was visible on thin-layer chromatography of lipid extracts obtained from liver biopsies.