Background: Cholesterol is an essential component of cell membranes, precursor of steroids, biliary acids andother components of serious importance in live organism. Cholesterol synthesis is a complicated and energy-demandingprocess. Real daily need of cholesterol and mechanisms of decline cholesterol levels in critical ill are unknown.During stressful situations a signifi cant hypocholesterolaemia may be found. Hypocholesterolemia has been knownfor a number of years to be a signifi cant prognostic indicator of increased morbidity and mortality connected with awhole spectrum of pathological conditions. The aim of article is the elucidation of the role and importance of hypocholesterolaemiaduring the intensive care. .Methods and Results: We examined studies that are engaged in problems of hypocholesterolemia in critically ill.Very low levels of total as well as LDL cholesterol are most frequently found in serious polytrauma, after extensivesurgery, in serious infections, in protracted hypovolemic shock. It is still not clear whether hypocholesterolemia refl ectsonly a serious metabolic disorder, which results from a life-threatening condition, or whether it has an active role inevolution and outcome.Conclusions: Hypocholesterolemia is commonly observed in critically ill patients. Nevertheless, it is not knownwhether it is a secondary manifestation of disease, or whether it actively contributes to deterioration of the disease.Although the contribution of hypocholesterolemia to mortality is modest compared with known risk factors such asincreased severity of illness and the development of nosocomial infection, low serum lipid concentrations representa potential therapeutic target in sepsis.

Department of Gerontology and Metabolism Faculty Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Hradec Kralove

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