A correlation between carotenemia and biliary dyskinesia.

The interrelationship between carotenemia and biliary dyskinesia was studied in eighty-two biliary dyskinesia patients and twenty-seven normal subjects. Incidence of serum carotene levels of more than 300 micrograms/dl was more frequent in biliary dyskinesia patients without liver damage or hyperlipemia. Among the carotenemia patients, no dietary cases were found, but metabolic and hyperlipemic ones were observed. Significant relationships were found between gall bladder contraction rate and the levels of serum carotene, vitamin A, and lipids in metabolic carotenemia. A close relationship between metabolic carotenemia and biliary dyskinesia was strongly suggested.