Sulphated bile acids in duodenal juice of healthy infants and children compared with sulphated bile acids in paediatric patients with various gastroenterological diseases.

The bile acid pattern in the first 10 minute fraction of intestinal juice after injection of pancreozymin (2 U/kg bw) was studied in 32 gastroenterologically healthy children and 26 paediatric patients with various diseases of the liver or intestine. The sulphated and non-sulphated portions of monohydroxy, dihydroxy, and trihydroxy bile acids were evaluated in relation to the total concentration of bile acids as well as the ratios of the individual acids to each other in esterified and unesterified form. In healthy patients, the extent of sulphation was not age dependent. The quantity of potentially toxic monohydroxy and dihydroxy bile acids did not determine the percentage of sulphation, which was induced only by the severity of cholestasis. Ursodeoxycholic bile acids were usually esterified with sulphuric acid to a remarkably high degree. Less sulphated bile acids were detected in patients with coeliac disease than in the control group.