Serum Squalene in Patients with Gallstones

Serum squalene concentration, which represents the degree of cholesterol synthesis,　and other serum and biliary lipids were determined and characteristic abnormalities of　lipid metabolism were discussed in patients with gallstones having high serum squalene.

The serum squalene concentration was significantly high in patients with pure　cholesterol and mixed stones. It remained in normal range in patients with combination　and bilirubinate stones. The high serum squalene concentration was accompanied by　a high lithogenic index and serum triglyceride concentration. Patients with high serum　squalene were also accompanied by increased percent cholic and decreased percent　chenodeoxycholic acid.

These results may indicate that patients with high serum squalene in our present　study have similar lipid abnormalities as type IV hyperlipoproteinemia which has　increased cholesterol synthesis, hypertriglyceridemia and increased cholic acid pool and　normal chenodeoxycholic acid pool size.