[Comparative studies on serum bile acid concentrations before and after cholecystectomy].

In 15 patients without liver disease fasting and postprandial serum bile acid concentrations are determined before and 2-4 weeks after cholecystectomy. In every case a standardized test meal is given and conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid are measured by radioimmunoassay. The increase of serum bile acid concentrations for three hours after ingestion of the test meal is not diminished by cholecystectomy. In comparison to 50 healthy volunteers and 25 additional cholecystectomized persons there are no differences in the area under the concentration-time curve. From these results it is concluded that the postprandial serum bile acid level is determined by the enteral liberation of bile acids rather than by gallbladder contraction.