[The significance of LP-X cholesterol in the differential diagnosis of cholestasis (author's transl)].

The aim of this study was to investigate whether quantification of Lipoprotein X (LP-X) through its cholesterol moiety is advantageous in the differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice. In the case of mechanic cholestasis, LP-X cholesterol never exceeds 22% of the total serum cholesterol. Lipoprotein-X cholesterol exceeded 70 mg/dl in the plasma of 85% of all cases of acute hepatitis. The combination of lipoprotein with the activities of alkaline phosphatase and GPT allows the recognition of almost 80% of cases acute hepatitis and thereby excludes all other causes of obstructive jaundice. In addition, 84% of all patients investigated can be correctly classified using a combination of LP-X with classical parameters for cholestasis. The concentration of LP-X cholesterol alone apparently is as powerful as the usually used clinical chemical parameters. A combination of lipoprotein and the classical parameters allows a better differentiation of cholestatic liver disease with regard to the underlying cause as it is possible with each group of parameters alone.