Enzymatic fluorometry for estimating serum total bile acid concentration

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Hepatology
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Serum total bile acids (SBA) are sensitive indicators of liver function.
• Accurate and accessible methods for SBA quantification are crucial for diagnosing liver conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of enzymatic fluorometry (EF) for measuring fasting and postprandial serum total bile acids (SBA).
• To compare EF-SBA levels with liver function status and correlate EF-SBA with gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) methods.

Main Methods:

• Serum total bile acid (SBA) levels were measured using enzymatic fluorometry (EF) in subjects with and without liver disease.
• Fasting and postprandial SBA levels were assessed in normal subjects and cholestatic patients.
• EF-SBA results were compared with gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) in patients with hepatic lesions.

Main Results:

• SBA levels were significantly elevated in patients with impaired hepatic function compared to healthy controls.
• Elevated SBA levels were also observed in a subset of patients with hepatic lesions but normal liver function.
• Enzymatic fluorometry (EF) detected significant postprandial increases in SBA.
• EF-SBA and GLC-SBA measurements showed a strong correlation (r=0.869).

Conclusions:

• Enzymatic fluorometry (EF) is a reliable method for estimating serum total bile acid (SBA) levels.
• EF-SBA measurements can aid in differentiating liver disease severity and assessing hepatic function.
• The strong correlation between EF and GLC methods supports the clinical utility of EF-SBA assays.