Serum bile acids after a test meal in Crohn's disease.

The serum levels of conjugated cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid have been studied before and during a 4 h period after the intake of a liquid test meal in seven control subjects and in fourteen patients with Crohn's disease. The concentrations of serum bile acids were determined by radioimmunoassay. The control group showed a postprandial increase of both conjugates with a return to the fasting level for cholic acid within 4 h. The chenodeoxycholic acid conjugate did not return to the fasting level within the test period. The serum bile acid concentration in Crohn's disease divided the patients in two groups; one group with decreased or normal fasting levels and low postprandial increase and another group with elevated fasting levels and a postprandial increase without return to the fasting levels within the test period.