SERUM LIPIDS IN INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS AND OBSTRUCTIVE JAUNDICE 1

Abstract

The serum lipids in 41 patients with hepatitis and 24 patients with obstructive jaundice are presented. The chronological pattern followed by the lipids in hepatitis is described. The ratio of free to total cholesterol rose markedly in both conditions, being highest early in the icteric phase of infectious hepatitis, and in mechanical obstruction which was complete and had existed for some months. The total cholesterol was lowest where the element of parenchymal damage was greatest, that is, in early or severe infectious hepatitis, and highest when the element of obstruction was greatest, in prolonged biliary obstruction. There was considerable overlap between the values in infectious hepatitis and those in partial or early obstruction of the common bile duct. The phos-pholipids bore a close relationship to the free cholesterol even when the ratio of free to total cholesterol was markedly distorted. This relationship is discussed in some detail.