[The clinical significance of radioimmunologically determined serum bile acids as a new liver function test and the development of a new intravenous sulfolithoglycocholic acid (SLGC) stimulation test].

Cholylglycin (CG-) and SLCG levels were measured in patients with various biopsy-confirmed liver and bile disease. SLCG values were found to be more sensitive, and to distinguish clearly between steatosis hepatis and normals, as well as between cirrhosis hepatis, with and without, portal hypertension. Correlations between the common liver tests and the SLCG levels were poor, but a clear distinction was possible between the various histologically defined liver diseases. The paper concludes with a description of a new method of stimulating the SLCG values, intravenously. Using this method, it is possible to keep consumption of material and time and incommodities inflicted to the patient, as low as possible. Nevertheless staging of parenchymatous liver diseases, is feasible.