A correlation of serum bile acid levels with conventional biochemical parameters in the assessment of hepatobiliary dysfunctions.

In hepatobiliary disease, the level of bile acids in the peripheral circulation is greatly increased due to impaired liver function. It has been suggested that serum bile acids are of greater value in confirming hepatobiliary dysfunction than the currently assayed conventional biochemical parameters. Fifty patients with confirmed liver disease were studied. Bile acid determinations and a battery of biochemical tests were performed on each patient. Although serum bile acid levels correlated well with liver disease, the combination of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase or 5'nucleotidase with alkaline phosphatase in conjunction with alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes provided similar or better correlation. Also, the routinely assayed enzymes, such as gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase demonstrated excellent correlation with hepatobiliary dysfunction.