[Clinical value of serum concentration of total bile acids in chronic hepatopathies]

Total bile acid concentrations were estimated in fasting serum samples from 251 patients with chronic liver disease and 108 controls without liver disease, together with conventional liver tests. Serum bile acids level was significantly higher in patients with liver disease than in control group. Fasting serum bile acid concentration was raised in 172 of the 251 patients with impaired hepatic function (68.5%). Only gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and transaminase tests exhibited a higher abnormality frequency. Two-hour postprandial serum bile acid concentrations were measured in 78 patients: the meal test shows a rise in sensitivity (+26.9%). Our results confirm that serum bile acids concentration represent a sensitive and reproducible test for hepatobiliary disorders.