[Clinical significance of serum bile acid radioimmunoassay in hepatobiliary diseases--with special reference to the CG/SLCG ratio (author's transl)].

Both serum cholylglycine (CG) and sulfolithocholylglycine (SLCG) levels were radioimmunoassayed by PEG method in 209 samples (204 hepatobiliary diseases, 5 normal controls). 1) The results revealed that serum bile acid levels were excellent indicators for hepatic dysfunction in comparison with the conventional liver function tests. 2) Means of 19.4 +/- 9.3 microgram/dl for CG and 21.7 +/- 6.7 microgram/dl for SLCG were obtained in controls. Most hepatobiliary diseases demonstrated abnormally high bile acid levels, with extremely high CG values in conditions with bile stasis. 3) To differentiate various hepatobiliary diseases more clearly, the ratio of the primary and secondary bile acids (CG/SLCG ratio) was introduced (1.0 +/- 0.6 for controls). In cases of bile stasis, CG/SLCG ratios ranged from 7.8 +/- 4.8 for intrahepatic cholestasis to 34.8 +/- 27.6 for congenital biliary atresia, while other hepatic disorders demonstrated relatively low values. We conclude that the CG/SLCG ratio is a useful index for cholestasis. Diagnosis of the congenital biliary atresia could be possible.