Bile Acid Stimulation Test
Indications:
Used as a test of hepatic
function. Diagnostic test for porto-systemic shunts in the dog
and in many cases in the cat. Can be used in determining the
likely presence of morphologic liver disease (i.e., that a biopsy
would show histologic evidence of change).
Notes:
Following ingestion of a fatty
meal, gallbladder contraction releases bile acids into the
duodenum to allow emulsification and absorption of fats. Bile
acids are reabsorbed into the portal circulation from the small
intestine and reabsorbed into hepatocytes.
In normal animals, hepatic
clearance of bile acids is very efficient, with only low levels
being present in peripheral blood post prandially. Significant
hepatocellular dysfunction, reduced hepatic functional mass or
shunting of blood away from the liver can all result in high bile
acid levels.
The exact form of fatty meal
required is not critical provided it induces gallbladder
contraction. Proprietary paediatric diets are recommended. In
anorexic animals, administration of vegetable oil orally can be
used.
Protocol:
- Fast the animal for 12 hours
- Take about 1-2 ml blood into
a plain/gel tube
- Administer fatty
meal/vegetable oil
- Take a second sample of blood
2 hours after eating
- Label tubes with name and
time of sample. Submit tubes and request form to the
laboratory.
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