OBSERVATIONS ON THE SERUM CHOLESTEROL IN ACUTE INFECTIONS AS RECORDED DURING AND AFTER PNEUMONIA 1

Abstract

The serum cholesterol of 19 patients with pneumonia was followed at frequent intervals for 96 to 520 days after the onset of the disease. Hypocholesterolemia occurred during the febrile stage of the illness and was largely due to a decrease in the ester fraction. Hypercholesterolemia frequently associated with wide fluctuations occurred during convalescence from pneumonia for periods varying from 20 to 110 days, with an avg. of 52 days. During convalescence the increase in serum cholesterol above that which was subsequently found to be normal for each patient varied from 26 to 250 mg., averaging 82 mg. The % of rise above normal averaged 38% for the group of 19 patients. Implication of the thyroid or liver as a factor in the alteration of serum cholesterol level subsequent to infection was not demonstrated. Additional evidence confirming the constancy of serum cholesterol in normal individuals was presented.