The liver is the main organ of cholesterol, triglyceride metabolism and lipoprotein synthesis. In diffuse parenchymatous diseases which lead to cirrhosis of the liver a decline of VLDL and HDL particles occurs, as well as a decline of apo-B, apo-E lipoprotein (a). In cholestatic diseases the levels of free cholesterol, phospholipids and sometimes also triglyceride levels rise, in the termo- nal stage they decline again. A specific marker of cholestasis is the presence of abnormal lipopro- tein X, which is formed from non-esterified cholesterol and phsopholipids regurgitating from bile. Primary lipid disorders may then cause liver disease - steatosis. The main risk factors are hyper- triglyceridaemias. In the pathogenesis of liver steatosis in particular an increased supply of fatty acids into the liver, is involved, as well as defects in the process of VLDL synthesis and triglyceri- de release from the liver into the circulation. Hypercholesterolaemia is not a risk factor of steato- sis.

        Key words: Liver disease - Hepatic cirrhosis - Lipid disorders - Hepatic steatosis.