A retrospective study was carried out to examine the influence of portacaval shunt (PCS) on serum bile acid concentration in 47 cirrhotic patients. Cirrhotic patients with PCS had a significantly higher serum bile acid concentration than cirrhotic patients without PCS whatever the duration between the diagnosis and the time of measurement. Serum bile acid concentration was significantly higher 3–12 months after PCS (67.90 ± SD 15.90 μM; p < 0.001) and 12 months or more after PCS (94.11 ± SD 33.86 μM; p < 0.001) than before the shunt (18.98 ± SD 13.62 μM). The mean concentration 12 months or more after PCS was significantly higher than that found 3–12 months after shunt (p < 0.02). This progressive increase in serum bile acid concentration may indicate a deterioration of hepatic function in shunted patients.