Effect of sodium chenodeoxycholate on oxalate absorption from the excluded human colon--a mechanism for 'enteric' hyperoxaluria.

A perfusion technique has been used to study the effect of sodium chenodeoxycholate (5 mmol 1-1) on absorption of oxalate (2 mmol 1-1) from the surgically excluded colon in two patients with chronic liver disease. Colonic absorption of oxalate increased at least fivefold when sodium chenodeoxycholate was incorporated in the perfusion solutions. This observation may explain enteric hyperoxaluria after ileal resection and in some other gastrointestinal disorders.