Bile acid malabsorption

- can occur in long standing Crohn's disease (which involves terminal ileum) / ileal resection
- increased bile acids in colon reduce absorption of water and electrolytes and at higher concentration induce colonic secretion and increase motility.
- diagnosis by SeHCAT test (radiolabelled bile acid analogue is administered and percentage retention at 7 days is measured - less than 19% is abnormal)
- can be diagnosed by 14C glycolate test also
- treatment: cholestyramine