Bile acids in serum, ultrafiltrate of serum and saliva from patients with cholestatic jaundice.

Individual bile acid conjugates in serum, the ultrafiltrate of serum and in saliva from patients with cholestatic jaundice were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. The bile acid concentration in the ultrafiltrate was 4-20% of that in serum and had also a different composition, with higher ratio of cholic to chenodeoxycholic acid. In saliva, the bile acid concentration was 1-8% of that in serum and the composition was different due to a higher proportion of unconjugated cholic acid. The results indicate that neither the bile acid concentration in the ultrafiltrate, nor that in saliva corresponds to the non-protein-bound bile acids in serum.