Conjugating ability of bile acids in hepatic failure.

A 5-month-old boy with giant cell hepatitis died of hepatic failure. Analysis of serum bile acids by high pressure liquid chromatography revealed a marked increase in total bile acid concentration and a decrease in the cholate to chenodeoxycholate ratio. However, contrary to expectation, the conjugating ability of bile acids with taurine or glycine was well preserved. This suggests that the amino acid conjugation can occur despite the presence of severe hepatocellular damage.