Hepatic morphology and bile acid composition of bile and urine during chenodeoxycholic acid therapy for radiolucent gallstones.

In 9 patients with radiolucent gallstones, percutanous liver biopsy was performed during treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid in a dose of 500 to 750 mg per day for 3-14 months. In 4 patients pretreatment specimens were available for comparison. No sign of hepatic cellular necrosis or bile duct proliferation was noticed in the biopsies. In 2 patients hepatic steatosis was reduced, and in one patient moderate portal tract inflammation decreased during therapy. Mean values of alkaline phosphatases, alanine aminotransferases, prothrombin, and serum lipids remained unchanged and did not exceed normal limits. In 5 patients the urinary bile acid profile was examined during therapy. Chenodeoxycholic acid constituted 27-50%, lithocholic acid 25-63%, and ursodeoxycholic acid 0-13% of total bile acids in urine. The renal excretion of total bile acids was estimated to be less than two mg per day in each patient. From 86 to 100 per cent of the bile acids in urine was sulfated.