THe influence of aging upon gallstones--changes in serum lipids, lithogenesis of bile and cross-sectional views of stones with age.

Differences in lithogenesity of bile, and the type of stones of the radiolucent gallstone patients were investigated by both the roentgenogram (solitary and multiple) and cross-sectional views in comparison between the patients of ages below 39 and above 40 either with or without hyperlipidemia and lipoproteinemia. Hypercholesterolemia was rare in patients of age below 39 in contrast to those of above 40 in cases of solitary (p. The initiation and development of cholesterol gallstone are not only· regulated by the relative amount of cholesterol to bile acids and lecithin in bile but also by the core formation by cell debris, precipitation of pigment calcium or bile congestion caused by biliary inflammation. It was suggested in the previous studies of the authors that serum and lipoproteins were closely related to the initiation, precipitation and aggregation of cholesterol crystals and development of cholesterol gallstones though lipid metabolism of the whole body8>. However, the disturbance of lipid metabolism differs among the individual patients. The difference in the lipid metabolic disturbance is considered due directly to and/or affected indirectly by such factors as heredity, excess calorie consumption, kind of foods, pregnancy, sex, age and diseases of various kinds other than gallstones. In the present study, serum lipids, lipoproteins, lithogenesity of bile and type of stones Number of cases ~ male