Metabolic Signature of Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Its Comparison with Celiac Disease.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune liver disease characterized by ongoing inflammatory destruction of the interlobular bile ducts, eventually leading to chronic cholestasis and biliary cirrhosis. This study primarily aims to define the metabolomic signature of PBC after comparison with healthy controls (HC). Second, it aims to evaluate the possible metabolic association between PBC and celiac disease (CD), an immune-mediated disorder frequently associated with PBC. Serum and urine samples from 20 PBC, 21 CD, and 19 sex-matched HC subjects were collected. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra for all samples were acquired, and multivariate statistics were used to evaluate the differences among the three groups and to provide information about the involved metabolites. The classification accuracies to discriminate PBC and HC groups were 78.9-84.6% for serum and 76.9% for urine. In comparison to HC, PBC patient sera were characterized by altered levels ( p value <0.05) of pyruvate, citrate, glutamate, glutamine, serine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and lactate. PBC patient urine showed lower levels ( p value <0.05) of trigonelline and hippurate with respect to HC. Furthermore, the NMR metabolomic fingerprint was able to cluster PBC with respect to CD patients, and the classification accuracies in the discriminations between these groups were 81.9-91.7% for serum and 77.7% for urine. Our results show that PBC displays a unique metabolomic fingerprint, which led to speculation about an impaired energy metabolism, probably associated with an altered gut microbiota. PBC and CD showed two distinct metabolic fingerprints. These data could provide clues for the comprehension of the PBC pathogenetic mechanisms and the detection of novel therapeutic targets.

Urine and serum metabolomic profiling reveals that bile acids and carnitine may be potential biomarkers of primary biliary cirrhosis.

In order to provide non-invasive, reliable and sensitive laboratory parameters for the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), metabolic technology of ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS) was used to compare small molecule metabolites in blood and urine from patients with PBC and healthy controls. We then screened for bio-markers in the blood and urine of the patients with PBC. Data were processed by Bruker ProfileAnalysis metabonomic software and imported to SIMCA-P software, which utilized principal component analysis (PCA) to create models of patients with PBC and healthy controls. In total, 18 urinary markers were found and the levels of 11 of these urinary markers were elevated in the patients with PBC, whereas the levels of the remaining 7 markers were lower in the PBC group compared to the control group. We also identified 20 blood-based biomarkers in the patients with PBC and the levels of 9 of these markers were higher in the PBC group, whereas the levels of the remaining 11 markers were lower in the patients with PBC compared to the controls. Among these biomarkers, the levels of bile acids increased with the progression of PBC, while the levels of carnitines, such as propionyl carnitine and butyryl carnitine, decreased with the progression of PBC. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggest that the circulating levels of bile acids and carnitine are differentially altered in patients with PBC.

A patient with E. coli-induced pyelonephritis and sepsis who transiently exhibited symptoms associated with primary biliary cirrhosis.

A 28-year-old woman had chief complaints of headache and a 40 degrees C fever. At this time, findings indicative of inflammation including elevated CRP and increased WBC were observed, and E. coli was detected on blood and urine culture. As a result, the patient was diagnosed with pyelonephritis and sepsis. Furthermore, markedly increased hepatobiliary enzymes and elevated anti-mitochondrial antibody were confirmed. The administration of antimicrobial agents resulted in improvement of the pyelonephritis and sepsis and normalization of hepatobiliary enzyme and anti-mitochondrial antibody levels. It has been documented that the incidence of urinary tract infection is high among patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The findings obtained from the present patient are of considerable interest in elucidating the mechanism of onset in PBC.

Oxidant stress is a significant feature of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic disorder characterised by an immunological, and often granulomatous, attack on bile ducts leading to fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver failure and death. Animal and human studies suggest that oxidant stress plays a key role in progression of other liver diseases, but no comprehensive investigation has been performed previously in PBC. A wide range of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant markers were measured in the blood and urine of 41 patients with histologically confirmed PBC. Lipid peroxidation markers were significantly elevated [plasma and urinary 8-isoprostane, P<0.001; plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), P=0.007] compared to age- and sex-matched controls. The most striking antioxidant depletion occurred with plasma total glutathione where levels were significantly reduced (30% of controls). Total serum antioxidant levels were decreased (P=0.013) and serum selenium and vitamin A were also lower (both P<0.001); vitamins C and E were normal. Most patients had early disease biochemically and were Child-Pugh grade A. Urinary 8-isoprostane correlated positively with Ludwig stage and markers of hepatic injury and cholestasis. This study clearly demonstrates that oxidant stress, as reflected in a comprehensive spectrum of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant markers, is a significant feature of early-stage PBC.

Idiotype-anti-idiotype-based noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of ursodeoxycholic acid 7-N-acetylglucosaminides in human urine with subfemtomole range sensitivity.

We have established a noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the group-specific determination of 7-N-acetylglucosaminide of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA 7-NAG) and its glycine- and taurine-amidated metabolites (UDCA 7-NAGs) in human urine. These metabolites are expected to be a diagnostic marker for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). This assay is based on the idiotype-antiidiotype reaction where the analyte was captured by an excess amount of anti-UDCA 7-NAG antibody, and the unoccupied paratope was blocked with a beta-type antiidiotype antibody. The hapten-occupied antibody was then selectively detected with a biotin-labeled alpha-type antiidiotype antibody. The amount of bound biotin, increasing proportionally to the increase in the analyte, was colorimetrically determined using a peroxidase-labeled streptavidin. This assay provided subfemtomole range sensitivity (detection limit 118 amol) and allowed group-specific measurement of the UDCA 7-NAGs in urine without any pretreatment. The present ELISA revealed that significant amounts of UDCA 7-NAGs are excreted even in healthy subjects. Daily excretion rates for healthy males were determined to be 246+/-184 (S.D.) microg (n=5) as the glycine-amidated UDCA 7-NAG equivalent. Randomly collected urine specimens from patients with PBC (n=7) were also measured, and the assay values (standardized to creatinine excretion) ranged from 1.82 to 13.4 microg/mg Ucre with the average of 5.41+/-4.53 (S.D.) microg/mg Ucre.

Mucosal immunity and primary biliary cirrhosis: presence of antimitochondrial antibodies in urine.

We have shown that IgA-class antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) can be detected in the bile and saliva of patients with PBC, suggesting that AMA are secreted into the luminal fluid across bile ducts and salivary glands. These data prompted us to determine whether AMA of the IgA isotype may be transported across other epithelial mucosa. Therefore, we tested for the presence of AMA in the urine specimens of 83 patients with PBC and 58 non-PBC controls including healthy individuals and patients with other liver diseases. Patients enrolled in this study had no history of renal disease, and we confirmed there was less than 50 microgram/mL of protein in each of the urine specimens. Interestingly, we found that AMA were present in the urine of 71/83 (86%) of all patients with PBC and in 71/78 (91%) of patients with PBC that were serum AMA positive. In contrast, AMA were not detected in any of the 58 control urine specimens. Of particular interest, AMA of the IgA isotype was present in 57/83 (69%) of patients with PBC, and in 52 of these 57, we found secretory-type IgA. In a nested random subgroup of urine samples, the prevalence of the IgA2 AMA was 6/18 (33%), significantly lower than in matched serum samples, 13/16 (81%, P =.007). These data show that AMA of the IgA isotype is secreted into urine from the uroepithelium of patients with PBC, and support the thesis that PBC originated from either a mucosal challenge or a loss of mucosal tolerance.

Decreased carnitine biosynthesis in rats with secondary biliary cirrhosis.

Carnitine biosynthesis was investigated in rats with secondary biliary cirrhosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) for 4 weeks (n = 5) and in pair-fed, sham-operated control rats (n = 4). Control rats were pair-fed to BDL rats, and all rats were fed an artificial diet with negligible contents of carnitine, butyrobetaine, or trimethyllysine. Biosynthesis of carnitine and its precursors was determined by measuring their excretion in urine and accumulation in the body of the animals. Four weeks after BDL, total carnitine content was increased by 33% in livers from BDL rats when compared with control rats, but was unchanged in skeletal muscle and whole carcass. The plasma total carnitine concentration averaged 29.0 +/- 4.1 vs. 46.4 +/- 7.3 micromol/L in BDL rats and control rats, respectively. Urinary total carnitine excretion was reduced by 56% in BDL rats as compared with control rats. Carnitine biosynthesis was significantly decreased in BDL rats (0.45 +/- 0.19 vs. 0.93 +/- 0.08 micromol/100 g body weight/d in BDL and control rats, respectively). The tissue content of free and protein-linked trimethyllysine, a carnitine precursor, and trimethyllysine plasma concentrations were not different between BDL and control rats. However, urinary trimethyllysine excretion was increased 5-fold in BDL rats and approximated glomerular filtration. In contrast, urinary excretion of butyrobetaine, the direct carnitine precursor, was decreased by 40% in BDL rats as compared with control rats. Trimethyllysine biosynthesis was not different, but butyrobetaine biosynthesis was decreased by 51% in BDL as compared with control rats. In conclusion, carnitine biosynthesis is decreased in BDL rats as a result of a defect in the conversion of trimethyllysine to butyrobetaine.

[Directional velocity of the arterial flow, systemic vascular resistance and urinary excretion of sodium in cirrhotic patients]. / Vitesse directionelle du flux artériel, résistance vasculaire systémique et excrétion urinaire du sodium chez les cirrhotiques.

OBJECTIVES: We have studied the vascular resistance at the posterior tibial artery utilizing the Doppler reverse/forward flow ratio, and its relationship to systemic vascular resistance and renal function in 32 nonazotemic cirrhotic patients. METHODS: Patients were divided into three groups. Group A comprised 10 patients without ascites or oedema; group B comprised 9 patients with ascites and a relatively high sodium excretion (40 +/- 34 mmol/day); and group C comprised 13 patients with ascites and very low sodium excretion (4.9 +/- 2 mmol/day). RESULTS: No significant differences were found in urine flow, creatinine or creatinine clearance between the three groups. Renin and aldosterone levels were found increased in group C. Systemic vascular resistance differed significantly in the three groups, being lower in group C. Significant higher values in the Doppler reverse/forward ratio were observed in patients with markedly increased sodium retention and less systemic vascular resistance (group C). The Doppler reverse/forward ratio showed significant correlations with systemic vascular resistance (r = 0.65; n = 32; p < 0.001), urinary sodium excretion (r = 0.53; n = 32; p < 0.01), renin (r = 0.474; n = 32; p < 0.01) and aldosterone levels (r = 0.589; n = 32; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest in patients with hepatic cirrhosis vascular resistance, assessed non-invasively, at the posterior tibial artery, increases with the severity of sodium retention and the impairment in systemic hemodynamics. Thus, this measurement may be useful for the evaluation and follow-up of patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Vagal dysfunction and impaired urinary sodium and water excretion in cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible role of vagal impairment in the disturbances of urinary sodium and water excretion observed in cirrhosis. METHODS: Standard cardiovascular reflex tests were used to assess Autonomic function in 11 cirrhotic patients, and the response to an acute intravenous water load was determined. Changes in plasma noradrenaline, antidiuretic hormone, renin, and atrial natriuretic peptide also were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients with vagal dysfunction were shown to have significantly impaired urinary sodium and water excretion, compared with those whose cardiovascular tests were normal (5-h urinary sodium excretion, 32.3 +/- 9.0 vs. 69.4 +/- 12.7 mmol, p < 0.05; % water load excreted at 5 h, 67.8 +/- 10.5 vs. 109.2 +/- 3.67%, p < 0.008). This was associated with higher circulating noradrenaline, renin, and antidiuretic hormone levels after the water load in the vagal dysfunction group. Urinary sodium excretion correlated with the heart rate variation on deep breathing (r = 0.74, p < 0.013) and the heart rate response to atropine (r = 0.75, p < 0.020); the % water load excreted correlated with the number of abnormal cardiovascular tests in each patient (rS = 0.67, p < 0.02). Although patients with vagal abnormalities had worse liver function, urinary sodium and water excretion correlated better with parasympathetic tests than with standard parameters of hepatic function. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of vagal impairment in cirrhosis appears to be associated with impaired urinary sodium and water excretion, as well as disturbances in circulating vasoactive hormones. These findings could be due to an afferent defect resulting in diminished inhibitory input from intrathoracic volume and arterial baroreceptors, although a confounding effect of worse hepatic function in patients with vagal impairment cannot be excluded.

[Biliary scintigraphy. Application to the study of chronic cholestasis]. / Scintigraphie biliaire. Application à l'étude des cholestases chroniques.

In a sample population of 49 subjects (7 normal, 42 with various liver diseases), the parameters of the activity/time curve of trimethylbromo-iminodicetic acid (TBIDA) biliary scintigraphy were compared with the clearances of bromosulfophthalein (BSP) and indocyanine green (ICG). Correlation between T1/2 and P2 BSP slope was r = 0.50 (n = 33; P < 0.01). Correlation between Tmax TBIDA and fractional ICG clearance (P ICG) was r = 0.65 (n = 44; P < 0.001). In 23 cases of chronic cholestasis correlations remained significant (T1/2-P2 BSP: r = 0.53; n = 17; P = 0.02; Tmax-P ICG: r = 0.59; n = 17; P < 0.01). A prospective study of 11 cases of chronic intrahepatic cholestasis (primary biliary cirrhosis 8, primary sclerosing cirrhosis 3) showed that these two types of tests varied concordantly. Biliary scintigraphy, therefore, seems to be an accurate method to explore hepatocellular mass (degree of hepatic insufficiency) and cholestasis. The validation of biliary TBIDA scintigraphy as hepatobiliary functional exploration method and the possibility to study intrahepatic "regions of interest" defined a priori would make it possible to obtain a functional estimate of hepatic segments or lobes, for example before wide liver excision.

[Bacteriuria in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis]. / Bacteriuria en pacientes con cirrosis biliar primaria.

BACKGROUND: Controversies exist about the association between significant bacteriuria and primary biliary cirrhosis. There is evidence suggesting that infections by Gram negative bacteria may be implicated in the pathogenesis of this liver disease. AIM: To compare the incidence of bacteriuria in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and those with autoimmune chronic hepatitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty women with primary biliary cirrhosis and twenty three female patients with autoimmune chronic hepatitis were prospectively studied by routine bacteriological cultures of midstream urine specimens. Samples were obtained at three months intervals or when patients complained of symptoms suggesting urinary tract infection. Significant bacteriuria was defined as the growth of > 10(5) organisms/ml in pure culture. RESULTS: During 8 +/- 1 months of follow up. 60 urine samples from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and 73 from autoimmune hepatitis cases were tested. Twenty one samples of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (35%) were positive for significant bacteriuria compared with 7 from women with autoimmune hepatitis (9%); p < 0.01. In the follow up, ten patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (50%) and six with autoimmune hepatitis (26%) developed at least one episode of significant bacteriuria. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that female patients with primary biliary cirrhosis are in higher risk of significant bacteriuria than women with autoimmune hepatitis. Prospective studies evaluating the effects of long-term antibiotic therapy on cholestasis parameters in primary biliary cirrhosis are deserved.

Latent distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and chronic autoimmune hepatitis (CAH).

In an attempt to evaluate the latent distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA7) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and chronic autoimmune hepatitis (CAH), and differences between them in relation to the sodium urinary excretion ([Na]u), thirty four patients divided in two groups were studied. Group A: 17 patients who fulfilled criteria for PBC diagnosis (clinical and humoral evidence antimitochondrial antibody titles of 1/80 or above by indirect immunofluorescence technique, and liver biopsy). Group B: 17 patients who fulfilled criteria for CAH diagnosis (clinical and humoral evidence, antinuclear and smooth muscle antibody titles of 1/80 or above and liver biopsy). Patients with ascitis and/or edema were excluded from the study. Ability to acidify urine was evaluated by gradient between pC02 in urine and blood (U-BpC02) after alkali infusion. Five patients in Group A (29.4%7) and six in Group B(35.2%) had dRTA, (p = 0.49). When analyzing patients with dRTA in both groups, the mean [Na]u in Group A was 152.2 +/- 33.8, versus 50.8 +/- 8.1 mEq/l, in Group B. (p = 0.00016). We concluded that the prevalence of dRTA was similar in patients with PBC and CAH but the urinary acidifications impairment of the former did not correlate with [Na]u, as it did with the latter.

Latent distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and chronic autoinmune hepatitis (CAH)

In an attempt to evaluate the latent distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA7) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and chronic autoinmmune hepatitis (CAH), and differences between them in relation to the sodium urinary excretion ([a]u), thirty four patients divided in two groups were studied. Group A: 17 patients who fullfilled criteria for PBC diagnosis (clinical and humoral and liver biopsy). Group B: 17 patients who fullfilled criteria for CAH diagnosis (clinical and humoral evidence, antinuclear and smooth muscle antibody tiles of 1/80 or above and liver biopsy). Patients with ascitis and/or edema were excluded form the study. Ability to acidify urine was evaluated by gradient between pCO2 in urine and blood (U-BpC02) after alkali infusion. Five patients with dRTA in both groups, the mean [Na]u in Group A was 152.2 ñ 33.8, versus 50.8 ñ 8.1 mEq/l, in Group B. (p=0.00016). We concluded that the prevalence of dRTA was similar en patiens with PBC and CAH but the urinary acidifications impairment of the former did not correlate with [Na]u, as it did whit the latter

Latent distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and chronic autoinmune hepatitis (CAH)

In an attempt to evaluate the latent distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA7) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and chronic autoinmmune hepatitis (CAH), and differences between them in relation to the sodium urinary excretion ([a]u), thirty four patients divided in two groups were studied. Group A: 17 patients who fullfilled criteria for PBC diagnosis (clinical and humoral and liver biopsy). Group B: 17 patients who fullfilled criteria for CAH diagnosis (clinical and humoral evidence, antinuclear and smooth muscle antibody tiles of 1/80 or above and liver biopsy). Patients with ascitis and/or edema were excluded form the study. Ability to acidify urine was evaluated by gradient between pCO2 in urine and blood (U-BpC02) after alkali infusion. Five patients with dRTA in both groups, the mean [Na]u in Group A was 152.2 ñ 33.8, versus 50.8 ñ 8.1 mEq/l, in Group B. (p=0.00016). We concluded that the prevalence of dRTA was similar en patiens with PBC and CAH but the urinary acidifications impairment of the former did not correlate with [Na]u, as it did whit the latter (AU)

Increased urinary excretion of bile alcohol glucuronides in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

The bile alcohol glucuronides in urine of 12 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), 10 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), and 6 healthy volunteers were analyzed by capillary gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. In all subjects studied, the major urinary bile alcohol was found to be 27-nor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24,25-pentol (C26 pentol). In PBC patients, the excretion of C26 pentol (main isomer) was significantly increased above values observed in healthy volunteers (mean +/- SD = 5.2 +/- 3.5 mumol/24 h, range 1.0-13.4; versus 0.6 +/- 0.3, range 0.4-1.0). In addition, PBC patients excreted increased amounts of other bile alcohols such as isomers of C26 pentol, pentahydroxylated C27 bile alcohols (5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24,25-pentol) and 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,25,26-pentol) and a hexahydroxylated C26 bile alcohol (27-nor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24,25,26-hexol). In CAH patients, the excretion of the C26 pentol main isomer ranged from 0.3 to 2.0 mumol/24 h (mean +/- SD = 0.7 +/- 0.5) and did not significantly differ from that in healthy volunteers. Moreover, the bile alcohol profile was comparable to those found in healthy volunteers and PBC patients. These findings show that total urinary bile alcohol glucuronide excretion is significantly increased in primary biliary cirrhosis. A PBC-specific urinary bile alcohol profile, however, does not exist.

Abnormal methylation capacity in human liver cirrhosis.

To investigate the influence of liver cirrhosis on the capacity of methylation, the urinary excretion of the methylated forms of arsenic was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry after the administration of a small dose of inorganic arsenic. The study was carried out in 13 normal controls, 18 patients with various clinical conditions, but without evidence of parenchymal liver disease, and 38 with cirrhosis of varied aetiology and severity. In normal controls, the percentage of arsenic excreted as monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) averaged 12.3 +/- 2.8% and 23.3 +/- 6.4%, respectively, and was not significantly different from that obtained in disease controls. The presence of liver cirrhosis did not affect the percentage of the injected dose excreted within 24 h. However, cirrhotic patients excreted significantly less MMA (4.7 +/- 3.3, p less than 0.001) and more DMA (40.4 +/- 16.6%, p less than 0.001). The amount of MMA correlated with the 14C aminopyrine breath test (r = 0.43) and was invariably lower than the normal range in patients with severe liver disease. These findings indicate that liver cirrhosis is associated with profound abnormalities of the methylation pathway, which might have potential consequences in the metabolism of endogenous amines and xenobiotics.

Urinary excretion of hyaluronan in man.

A specific assay for hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) has been applied to the determination of the polysaccharide in urine. The excretion in 22 healthy subjects was 330 micrograms/24 h (SD 77). The excretion was correlated with body weight and was therefore somewhat higher in males than in females. The molecular weight of the main fraction of urinary hyaluronan was in the range of 4000 to 12,000 in accordance with the hypothesis that it originates from blood and arises by glomerular filtration. A small fraction was of higher molecular weight and could have been produced in the urinary tract. Hyaluronan in male and female urine displayed the same molecular weight distributions. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and primary biliary cirrhosis showed a two-fold and three-fold increase, respectively, of hyaluronan in urine with concurrently high levels of the polysaccharide in serum. A patient with Werner's syndrome displayed a ten-fold increase of the polysaccharide in both serum and urine.

Metabolism of vitamin D in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and alcoholic liver disease.

The metabolism of isotopically labelled vitamin D2 and D3 has been investigated in eight patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and in five controls. The concentration of labelled vitamin D2 was lower than that of vitamin D3 in serum of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis on days 1 and 2 after intravenous injection (P less than 0.005 and P less than 0.05, respectively) but no difference was seen in controls. Similar amounts of labelled 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3 were seen in serum of the control group; the same pattern was observed in the primary biliary cirrhosis group, and no significant differences were observed between the two groups. In both control and primary biliary cirrhosis groups, the serum concentration of labelled 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 exceeded that of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (significant for controls on day 2, P less than 0.02) but concentrations in the two groups were not different. Concentrations of labelled 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were significantly higher than those of 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D2 in the primary biliary cirrhosis group at all times and in the control group on days 2 and 3. Both 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D2 and D3 were higher in the serum of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis than in controls (significant on day 1; P less than 0.05). Urinary excretion over days 0-3 of radioactivity from both vitamins D2 and D3 was significantly higher in the primary biliary cirrhosis group than in controls: 12.03 vs 1.80% for vitamin D2 and 8.98 vs 1.76% for vitamin D3 (P less than 0.005). Vitamin D2-derived urinary radioactivity in primary biliary cirrhosis correlated strongly with serum bilirubin (P = 0.005). The metabolism of labelled vitamin D3 was studied in seven patients with alcoholic liver disease, three of whom showed low serum concentrations of labelled 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 suggesting impaired hepatic synthesis. The 25-hydroxylation response was quantified as the relative index of 25-hydroxylation and was significantly related to two other indices of liver function. It is concluded that impaired 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D may occur in alcoholic liver disease and results from hepatocellular dysfunction. Less than the predicted amounts of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were produced in four of the seven patients with alcoholic liver disease; this defect may be attributable in part to decreased precursor 25-hydroxyvitamin D and to poor renal function.

Urinary porphyrins in liver disease.

By use of quantitative thin-layer chromatography, urinary porphyrins were examined in 40 healthy volunteers, 38 patients with prophyria cutanea tarda (PCT), and 139 patients with various liver diseases. Significant elevations not only of coproporphyrin but also of some other porphyrins were found in many patients with liver disease. However, there was no evident relationship between porphyrin disturbances and functional or clinical findings, and all of these non-PCT patients who initially demonstrated intense uroporphyrinuria, when re-studied apparently had more normal porphyrin excretion. It seems, therefore, that whereas porphyrin estimations are useful in porphyrias, no clinically important conclusions can be drawn from urinary findings in patients with liver disease. The origin of defective haem biosynthesis in liver disease remains obscure. It can only be speculated that transient and reversible urocoproporphyrinuria may occur in patients with defective hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity who clinically and biochemically are not porphyric.

Precursor of 27-nor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 24,25-pentol in man.

Cholesterol was shown to be the precursor of 27-nor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 24,25-pentol which is the major bile alcohol in human urine. 4-[14C]-Labelled cholesterol and beta-sitosterol were administered to patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Urine was extracted with Amberlite XAD-2 and sterol glucuronides and bile acid conjugates were isolated by ion exchange chromatography on Lipidex-DEAP. Following hydrolysis and further purification on Lipidex-DEAP, the C26 bile alcohol and methyl esters of cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids were isolated by HPLC. The specific radioactivity of the C26-pentol was the same as that of cholic acid after administration of [14C]-cholesterol. In contrast, little if any radioactivity could be detected in the C26-pentol after administration of labelled beta-sitosterol.