Fasting and postprandial serum bile acids: Comparison between radioimmunological and enzymatic assay for detection of liver disease

Fasting and postprandial serum bile acids were studied in 42 patients with chronic liver disease (10 CPH, 16 CAH, 16 cirrhoses). The total serum bile acids were measured by the enzymatic-fluorimetric method; the cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid conjugates were measured by radioimmunoassay. The diagnostic sensitivity of the two methods was evaluated in comparison with the common 'liver tests'. Fasting TSBA, CA and CDCA are comparable for diagnostic sensitivity with BSP retention, whereas the sensitivity of the postprandial serum bile acids, both total and primary conjugated, is comparable with BSP clearance. Therefore the measurement of the bile acids in serum is an important test for the study of the hepatic function. We found no difference in sensitivity between the enzymatic-fluorimetric method and radioimmunoassay.