An Evaluation of the Use of Serum 7-alpha-hydroxycholestenone as a Diagnostic Test of Bile Acid Malabsorption Causing Watery Diarrhea

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bile acid malabsorption (BAM) is a recognized cause of watery diarrhea, often diagnosed empirically based on clinical response to cholestyramine. The radionuclide selenium-labelled homocholic acid-taurine whole body retention test is expensive, labour intensive and of limited availability.