Unusual trihydroxylated bile acids in urine of patients with liver cirrhosis

Urine from 20 male patients with liver cirrhosis was analyzed for bile acid constituents by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Five unusual trihydroxy bile acids were found in the urine: norcholic acid in 18; 3 alpha, 7 beta, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid in 9; hyocholic acid in 11; 1 beta, 3 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid in 12; and allocholic acid in 13 patients. The presence of unusual trihydroxy bile acids was unrelated to the clinical severity of cirrhosis. Norcholic acid was the major trihydroxy bile acid which was found in the urine.