IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CD68, Ki-67 AND VEGF EXPRESSION IN CHRONIC CALCULOUS CHOLECYSTITIS IN OBESE PATIENTS

Abstract

The growing prevalence of obesity has become a major challenge for modern healthcare systems worldwide. Excess adipose tissue is now recognized not only as an energy storage organ but also as an active endocrine structure involved in chronic inflammatory reactions. Obesity significantly contributes to the development of hepatobiliary diseases, including gallstone formation and chronic calculous cholecystitis. Altered lipid metabolism, bile supersaturation with cholesterol, and impaired gallbladder motility create favorable conditions for persistent inflammatory injury within the gallbladder wall.