What is the common presentation of Bile-acid malabsorption?

chronic diarrhoea

What are the main clinical features of Bile-acid malabsorption?

steatorrhoea and vitamin A, D, E, K malabsorption

What is the management of Bile-acid malabsorption?

bile acid sequestrants e.g. cholestyramine

What are the primary cause of Bile-acid malabsorption?

due to excessive production of bile acid

What are the secondary causes of Bile-acid malabsorption?

• crohns disease
• cholecystectomy
• coeliac disease
• small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

What are the investigations for Bile-acid malabsorption?

• the test of choice is SeHCAT
• nuclear medicine test using a gamma-emitting selenium molecule in selenium homocholic acid taurine or tauroselcholic acid (SeHCAT)
• scans are done 7 days apart to assess the retention/loss of radiolabelled 75SeHCAT