Serum bile acid levels in protracted diarrhea of infancy
L. M. Demers and J. D. Lloyd-Still
Significant elevations in two glycine-conjugated serum bile acid levels
(cholic and chenodeoxycholic) were detected in a majority of infants with
intractable diarrhea of infancy. In contrast, children with chronic
inflammatory bowel disease had values of serum bile acids within the normal
range. Although intravenous alimentation and constant-infusion elemental
diet may alter hepatic function, serum bile acid levels were also elevated
in other infants with intractable diarrhea not treated by these methods. We
hypothesize that endotoxemia or other unknown mechanisms together with
therapy are exerting a detrimental effect on hepatic function.
