Risk of gallstone disease is associated with serum level of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein

We explored the association between serum level of alpha-1-acid glycoprotei n (AGP, an acute phase protein) and the risk of gallstones. AGP was determi ned in stored serum samples from a case-control study (cases: 113 patients who underwent: cholecystectomy for gallstone disease; controls: 184 surgery patients screened by ultrasound, showing no gallstones). Serum AGP correla ted negatively with HDL-cholesterol and positively with triglycerides. Pres ence of gallstones was positively associated with serum AGP, more strongly so for cholesterol gallstones than for pigment:gallstones, but not differen tly between solitary and multiple cholesterol stones. Asymptomatic gallston es (13 surgery patients with gallstones found by screening) were also assoc iated with serum AGP levels. A causal role of elevation of serum AGP (or un derlying immune activation) in gallstone formation is discussed.