Cholesterol, non-cholesterol sterols and bile acids in paediatric gallstones

Abstract Background Depending on underlying aetiopathogenetic factors human gallstones contain various amounts of cholesterol, non-cholesterol sterols and bile acids, which have remained unexplored in paediatric gallstone patients. Aims To evaluate sterol and bile acids compositions of paediatric gallstones. Patients and methods Study group included 21 consecutively cholecystectomised children. Gas–liquid chromatography was used to quantitate gallstone sterols and bile acids. Results were compared to adult gallstones ( n  = 194). Results Cholesterol stones ( n  = 9) had higher proportions of cholestenol and lathosterol, but lower those of lanosterol and phytosterols than pigment stones ( n  = 12) ( p r  = ∼+0.700, p p p Conclusion Gallstones in patients on parenteral nutrition are rich in phytosterols. With respect to gallstone sterols, gallstone disease of adolescent girls resembles that of adults. Composition of bile acids in paediatric gallstones is different from adults.