Abstract
The synthesis of bile acid conjugates in liver homogenates obtained from operative biopsies in 25 patients with acute cholecystitis was studied. Eleven of these cases were preoperatively given infusions of carbohydrates. In the 14 patients not given carbohydrates a significant decrease of the synthesizing capacity of bile acid conjugates was found as compared to the control group. In the 11 patients treated with carbohydrates the synthesizing capacity was almost restored to the level of the controls. For patients not given carbohydrates a significant negative correlation between the synthesizing capacity and retention of bromsulphalein existed. It is concluded that at least one liver function is affected in acute cholecystitis. The degree of retention of bromsulphalein can serve as a measure of the impairment of this function. Preoperative infusion of carbohydrates to the patients improves the conjugation capacity of the liver.