title: Selective elevation of plasma free cholesterol concentration by administration of estrogen in the presence of total biliary obstruction.
abstract: On the basis of clinical observations suggesting interactive effects of biliary obstruction and estrogen therapy on plasma cholesterol levels, a prospective study of the effect of ethinyl estradiol on plasma lipid levels was carried out in a patient with total biliary obstruction. A daily dose of 50 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol raised the plasma free cholesterol concentration from 265 mg/dl to 550 mg/dl over a period o 3 weeks; there was no change in plasma ester cholesterol concentration. Withdrawal of the estrogen was followed by a fall to baseline of the free cholesterol concentration over a 45-day period; once again there was no change in ester cholesterol. Plasma phospholipid concentration rose and fell in direct proportion to the changes in free cholesterol; plasma triglyceride concentration was unaffected by the estrogen. To account for the results of this study, it is suggested that the already elevated plasma levels of lipoprotein-X in biliary obstruction are further elevated by estrogen administration.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D002784:Cholesterol