Bile Acid Composition and Bacteria in Biliary Tract Infection

Abstract

A study of bile acid composition and bacteriological and histological findings ofgallbladder from patients with biliary tract infection has been done. Gallbladder bile was examined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the presence of free bile acids. The results were as follows.
1) The concentration of total free bile acids and free deoxycholic acid was significantly higher in case of anaerobic infection than in those of aerobic infection or without infection.
2) The concentration of total free bile acids and free deoxycholic acid was higher in case of acute inflammatory changes of gallbladder than in those of chronic inflammatory changes. To determine the etiological significance of free bile acids on the pathogenesis of acute inflammation of gallbladder, further investigation is necessary.