Characterization of serum and liver lipids of gallstone-forming humans.

Liver biopsy and serum specimens obtained from patients with cholesterol gallstones and from a control group were analysed for their different lipids and lipoprotein fractions. The ratio of free cholesterol to esterified cholesterol (CF/CE) was significantly (P less than 0.001) higher in the livers of gallstone-forming patients. There was no significant difference in the levels of total lipids, total cholesterol, phospholipids and glycerides. Beta-lipoprotein fraction (LDL) was higher in gallstone-forming patients. It is concluded that the decrease in esterified cholesterol of gallstone-formers may provide an important clue to an understanding of the physiology and chemistry of stone-formation in humans.