Serum and urinary bile acids in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Serum concentrations and daily urinary excretions of unsulphated and total cholic (C) and chenodeoxycholic (CDC) acid were determined by radioimmunoassay in 15 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Thirteen patients had increased fasting serum bile acid concentrations; two of them had an increase of C only. An increase of C and CDC in serum was always followed by an increased urinary excretion of C and CDC. The individual serum bile acids were separated by gas-liquid chromatography. 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoic acid was increased in nine patients, and its serum concentration was correlated to the total serum bile acid concentration. Deoxycholic (DC) and lithocholic (LC) acid were found in most patients, but their serum concentrations were not correlated to the total serum bile acid concentration. Minor bile acids comprised an average of 2% of the total concentration.