Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 30, 1883-1887, Copyright © 1989 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Concentrations of cholestenoic acids in plasma from patients with reduced intestinal reabsorption of bile acids
M Axelson, B Mork, A Aly, G Walldius and J Sjovall
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
The concentrations of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid, 3 beta,7
alpha-dihydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid, and 7 alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-4-
cholestenoic acid were determined in plasma from patients treated with
cholestyramine or subjected to resection of the ileum or colon. The values
were compared with those for conjugated and unconjugated C24 bile acids.
Patients with an intact ileum but without colon had normal levels of
cholestenoic acids. Patients treated with cholestyramine or with ileal
resection had elevated levels of 7 alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-4- cholestenoic acid
(median values 189 and 233 ng/ml, respectively, compared to 85 ng/ml in
controls). The levels of the other two C27 acids were normal in
cholestyramine-treated and low in ileoresected patients and were positively
correlated to each other but not to the 3- oxo-delta 4 acid. There were no
consistent correlations between the levels of C27 acids and those of
conjugated or unconjugated C24 bile acids. The results indicate an
increased formation of 7 alpha-hydroxy-3- oxo-4-cholestenoic acid in
subjects having a stimulated activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase.