Semiquantitative measurement of lithocholic acid compounds in bile from patients with gallstones, before and during treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid.

A method for two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography of unprocessed bile is described. The method gives distinct spots from lithocholic acid and its compounds with glycine, taurine, and sulfuric acid. The size of the spots is estimated by comparison with standard spots, and the concentrations of individual bile acids are expressed as a fraction of the total content of bile acids in the sample. The concentration of total lithocholic acid was found to be 1-3 (mean 1.5) per cent of the total concentration of bile acids in duodenal bile from 14 healthy persons. It was slightly higher in bile from 6 untreated patients with gallstones, and still higher, 3-7 (mean 4.0) per cent, in bile from the same patients during treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid. The difference between the concentrations of total lithocholic acid in the bile samples from healthy persons and from patients treated with chenodeoxycholic acid was statistically significant. Nearly all the lithocholic acid was conjugated with glycine or taurine, and approximately half of it was sulfated. The increase in total lithocholic acid concentration in the bile from patients consisted of glycine conjugates.