[Causes of biliary sludge].

Aim: To specify characteristics of biochemical bile composition contributing to destabilization of colloid properties of bile in patients with biliary "sludge".

Material And Methods: 37 patients with "sludge" in the gallbladder (GB), 10 patients with cholelithiasis and 10 patients with intact GB participating in the study were examined for bile portion B bile acids (BA), cholesterol and phospholipids (PL); lipid and lipoprotein blood composition.

Results: Three types of biochemical composition of bile in GB "sludge" patients were identified. 22 patients had elevated levels of cholesterol and PL in subnormal content of BA (group 1); 9 patients had normal FA and cholesterol, low content of biliary PL (group 2); 6 patients had normal concentrations of the three components (group 3). Blood lipids were characterized by elevated levels of total cholesterol and LDLP cholesterol in group 1; low HDLP cholesterol and triglycerides in group 2 and almost normal values in group 3. Basing on these data, causes of "sludge" formation in the GB are suggested.

Conclusion: Biliary "sludge" may form because of excessive cholesterol in bile, low phospholipid levels or in normal proportion of the studied substances.