[An increase in bile acids in the serum of patients with chronic kidney failure]

Measurement of serum bile acids was performed in 86 uremic patients without any liver or bile tract diseases. Thirty-six patients (23 males and 13 females, aged 21-60 years) were on conservative dietary treatment, whereas 50 uremics (31 males and 19 females, aged 23-82 years) were on maintenance hemodialysis. The assays were made by means of enzymatic procedure and confirmed by RIA method too. Elevated serum concentrations of bile acids (> 6 mumol/L) were found in 24 out of the 86 uremics (27.9%), and the prevalence was similar in patients on conservative (10/36, 27.7%) and on dialysis treatment (14/50, 28%). Then, abnormally elevated concentrations of circulating bile acids are present in a quite high percentage of uremics both on hemodialysis and on conservative dietary therapy. The existence of a subclinical liver disease or an abnormal entero-hepatic cycle of bile acids might explain these findings.