Further evidence for the superiority of a 3-compartmental model for distribution analyses of i.v. injected bile acids in men: studies in patients with liver diseases.

In 15 patients (n = 6 without and n = 9 with liver diseases) we measured the plasma disappearance curves after single injections of C 14-glycocholate, calculated the distribution and excretion kinetics on the basis of a 2- and 3-compartmental model and compared the calculated values for the maximal C 14-accumulation within compartment 2 that should correspond to the liver in both compartmental models. The results demonstrate that only the 3-compartmental model reproduces the pathophysiological situation in the patients with liver injuries, namely a decrease of the maximal C 14-accumulation within the liver and an increased C 14-accumulation within the extrahepatoplasmatic compartment. The results therefore confirm our previous studies in healthy patients even for the patient with liver diseases.