Clinical laboratory characteristics of patients with obstructive jaundice accompanied by dyslipidemia

Background: Abnormal lipid metabolism manifests as hypercholesterolemia in patients with obstructive jaundice due to lipoprotein X (LpX). Our aim was to explore the clinical laboratory characteristics of patients with obstructive jaundice accompanied by dyslipidemia in a large number of samples. Methods: A total of 665 patients with obstructive jaundice were included and categorized into two groups (with/ without dyslipidemia) based on the ratio of the sum of HDL-c and LDL-c to total cholesterol [(HDL-c + LDL-c)/ TC] with a cut-off value of 0.695. Laboratory liver, kidney, and blood lipid parameters were determined. Cholesterol composition assessment was performed by ultracentrifugation and high-performance liquid chromatography (UC-HPLC), and serum protein profiles were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis. Results: Liver function in patients with obstructive jaundice accompanied by dyslipidemia was more aggravated than that in patients with simple obstructive jaundice (P < 0.05). The (HDL-c + LDL-c)/TC ratio was negatively correlated with bilirubin levels (P < 0.05). In addition, the difference in ApoB/LDL-c ratios was statistically significant between the obstructive jaundice accompanied by dyslipidemia group and healthy control group (P < 0.05). The LDL-c concentration determined by the UC-HPLC method was more than five times that determined by the enzymatic method (P < 0.05). Bisalbuminemia was found in 43 of 60 patients with obstructive jaundice accompanied by hypercholesterolemia. Conclusions: In patients with obstructive jaundice, the decreased (HDL-c + LDL-c)/TC ratio may be a novel marker to identify dyslipidemia secondary to LpX. The decreased ratio was associated with poor liver function and indicated disease progression.

Automated summary

In patients with obstructive jaundice, those with dyslipidemia show worsened liver function compared to those with simple obstructive jaundice. The decreased (HDL-c + LDL-c)/TC ratio is associated with poor liver function and disease progression in obstructive jaundice patients.