Abstract
Individual bile acid conjugates in serum, the ultrafiltrate of serum and in saliva from patients with cholestatic jaundice were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. The bile acid concentration in the ultrafiltrate was 4–20% of that in serum and had also a different composition, with higher ratio of cholic to chenodeoxycholic acid. In saliva, the bile acid concentration was 1–8% of that in serum and the composition was different due to a higher proportion of unconjugated cholic acid. The results indicate that neither the bile acid concentration in the ultrafiltrate, nor that in saliva corresponds to the non-protein-bound bile acids in serum.