Serum bile acids in dyslipidaemic patients

The sensitivity of total serum bile acid concentration as an index of hepatic damage has long been recognised. In addition serum bile acid measurement is significantly more specific than conventional hepatic function tests. However, the concentration might be affected by factors other than hepatic dysfunction. Several authors have reported variations in the synthesis of serum bile acids in dyslipidaemic patients. This might potentially reduce the value of concentration measurement in the diagnosis of hepatic diseases, especially considering the relative prevalence of hyperlipidaemia. The present article reports on radioimmunological serum bile acid measurement before and after meals in 10 patients with dyslipidaemia and in 22 controls. No difference was revealed between the two groups. Therefore dyslipidaemia appears not to affect the specificity of the test nor does it invalidate the use of radioimmunological measurement of total serum bile acids in the study of hepatic function.