Relative concentrations of individual nonsulfated bile acids in the serum and bile of patients with cirrhosis

The relative concentrations of individual nonsulfated bile acids were determined in samples of serum and bile obtained simultaneously from 16 patients with biospy-proven alcoholic cirrhosis. A highly significant (P<0.001) correlation was found between the fasting relative concentrations of each of the three major bile acids (cholic, chenodeoxycholic, and deoxycholic) in serum and bile. This relationship persisted after manipulation of bile acid pools produced by feeding of individual bile acids. We conclude that the relative concentrations of individual nonsulfated bile acids in serum accurately reflect those in bile and that measurement of individual serum bile acids may be used for screening and serial determination purposes. In particular, low levels of biliary deoxycholate can be reliably predicted by serum measurements.This work was supported by the Medical Research Service of the Veterans Administration and Grant RR-51 from the General Clinical Research Centers Program of the Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.This work has appeared in part, in abstract form: Mehta SJ, Kaye MD, Struthers JE Jr, Naylor JL: Relation between individual bile acids in serum and bile. Gastroenterology 66:745, 1974.