Serum bile acid concentrations in mild liver cirrhosis.
Fasting serum conjugated bile salt concentrations were measured in a group of 20 patients with moderate post-hepatitis cirrhosis. Twenty healthy volunteers were used as controls. The individual conjugated bile acids were analyzed by a specific and sensitive method which couples reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Significantly elevated levels of the total and individual conjugated bile acids were found in cirrhotic patients. The predominant serum bile acids were conjugates of chenodeoxycholic acid. The conjugates of lithocholic acid were also increased; in subjects with normal liver function, on the contrary, they were found only in traces.
Greco
A V
AV
Department of Metabolic Diseases, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Mingrone
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts