Crohn's disease - Lipids - Cholesterol - Hypocholesterolemia - Non-cholesterol sterols

Hypocholesterolemia has been investigated as a typical feature of critical illness and is connected with poor prognosis. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory process,is associated with several metabolic disturbances. In our study we examined the serum profile of cholesterol and changes in the cholesterol absorption/synthesis process by determination of plasma non-cholesterol sterol concentrations. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol and non-cholesterol sterols were evaluated in 24 patients with active Crohn's disease during a period of 28 days. The active phase of Crohn's disease is characterized by altered metabolism of lipids, mainly of cholesterol. Our results show abnormalities in plasma concentrations of non-cholesterol sterols and provide evidence that the process of cholesterol synthesis and absorption is altered in active Crohn's disease.