CHOLESTEROLOSIS IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH CHOLESTEROL LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT GALLSTONE DISEASE

High levels of cholesterol have been associated with certain gallbladd er disorders such as cholesterolosis and gallstone disease. Furthermor e, obesity is considered the main risk factor for cholesterol gallston e disease. We investigated the incidence of cholesterolosis in patient s with and patients without gallbladder stones (GS). We reviewed the c linical records of patients with gallstone disease and other gallbladd er disorders who had consecutive cholecystectomy during a 5-year perio d. We recorded demographic data, sex, age, serum cholesterol levels, a nd body mass index. The diagnosis of cholesterolosis was made macro sc opically and microscopically. A total of 636 patients were included in this study: 446 with and 190 without GS. Cholesterolosis was more fre quent in patients without GS (p < 0.01). However, hypercholesterolemia occurred mon frequently in patients with GS (p < 0.001). Obese patien ts with GS had higher percentages of cholesterolosis and hypercholeste rolemia than did eutrophic patients (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respective ly). We suggest that cholesterolosis in the human gallbladder is not n ecessarily associated with gallstone disease and high plasma cholester ol levels.