Levels of 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one in plasma reflect rates of bile acid synthesis in man

Abstract

A method for analysis of 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one in plasma is described. Following solid-phase extraction/purification the compound is determined by high-performance liquid chromatography using a UV detector. The median concentration in healthy subjects was 12 ng/ml (range 3–40). The levels were lower in diseases associated with a low bile acid production: extrahepatic cholestasis, <1.5 ng/ml (range < 0.9–3); liver cirrhosis <1.5 ng/ml (range < 0.9–38), and higher in diseases associated with a high bile acid production: cholestyramine treatment, 188 ng/ml (range 54–477); ileal resection 397 ng/ml (range 128–750). The levels were essentially normal in patients with colon resection. The results are consistent with a strong positive correlation between the levels of 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one in plasma and the rate of bile acid synthesis.