[Conjugated cholic acid in the portal vein, aorta and hepatic vein in patients with alcohol toxic liver cirrhosis].

In 12 patients with Laennec's cirrhosis conjugated cholic acid was measured by radioimmunoassay simultaneously in the portal vein, the aorta, and the hepatic vein. Furthermore, the concentration was measured for 90 minutes after i. v. injection of cholecystokinin. In the fasting patient the porto-venous extraction ratio was 0.45 (SD 0.23) and the arterio-venous extraction ratio was 0.24 (SD 0,21). 15-30 minutes after cholecystokinin the bile acid concentration significantly increased. In this time the porto-venous extraction ratio rose to 0.71 while the aorto-venous extraction ratio was different. These results agree with the hemodynamics found in cirrhosis. After cholecystokinin the increase in the extraction ratio account for the blood loss by porto venous shunts which corresponds to an increase of the portal compartment.