THE RELATION BETWEEN BILIARY LITHIASIS AND LIPOPROTEINS ISOLATED BY ULTRACENTRIFUGATION

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of biliary lithiasis was studied in a sampl e of rural female population by calculation of the risk factors associ ated and the correlation between biliary lithiasis and serum lipoprote in concentrations. METHODS: Two hundred forty-nine women between the a ges of 20-75 years in whom complete anamnesis and calculation of the Q uetelet index (QI) were performed, were the subjects of this study. Th e investigation of biliary lithiasis was carried out by echography. Se rum lipoprotein concentrations were determined by sequential ultracent rifugation. RESULTS: The prevalence of biliary lithiasis in the popula tion studied was of 10.4 %. A tendence to increase by age was observed and a peak between 50-60 years of age (p < 0.05) was registered. Bili ary lithiasis was more frequent among the obese population (p < 0.05). With respect to lipoprotein parameters, all the lipid values of the d ifferent fractions demonstrated to be higher in the lithiasic populati on, although only the differences in cholesterol vehicled by very low density lipoproteins (C-VLDL) achieved statistical significance) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of biliary lithiasis in the female population studied is similar to that reported in other Western popul ations, and an increasing tendency in the prevalence of biliary lithia sis with age and obesity was observed. The levels of C-VLDL are higher in women with biliary lithiasis than in those without.