Levels of immunoreactive glycine-conjugated bile acids in health and hepatobiliary disease

Am J Clin Pathol. 1976 Nov;66(5):831-9. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/66.5.831.

Abstract

A sensitive radioimmunoassay for cholylglycine, chenodeoxycholylglycine, deoxycholylglycine, and sulfolithocholylglycine was established using antibodies obtained from rabbits injected with albumin conjugates of these bile acids. Glycine-conjugated bile acid levels were measured in sera from 25 control subjects and 110 patients who had hepatic disease (alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatitis, cholestasis, and hepatic malignancy). Sulfolithocholylglycine was elevated in the sera of all 110 patients with hepatic disease. Cholylglucine was within normal range in only three. Chenodeoxycholylglycine was elevated in most sera of patients who had hepatitis, cholestasis, or hepatic malignancy. It was normal in most sera of patients who had alcoholic cirrhosis, suggesting that chenodeoxycholic acid may be subject to further biotransformations in these patients. Deoxycholylglycine was elevated in a minority of patients, none of whom had cholestasis. The data suggest that serum bile acids, particularly sulfolithocholylglycine, are a highly sensitive index for hepatic dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / complications
  • Biliary Tract Diseases / metabolism*
  • Chenodeoxycholic Acid / metabolism
  • Cholestasis / metabolism
  • Cholic Acids / metabolism*
  • Deoxycholic Acid / metabolism
  • Glycocholic Acid / metabolism*
  • Hepatitis / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lithocholic Acid / metabolism
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism
  • Liver Diseases / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Radioimmunoassay

Substances

  • Cholic Acids
  • Deoxycholic Acid
  • Chenodeoxycholic Acid
  • Lithocholic Acid
  • Glycocholic Acid