Measurement of serum 7a-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one as a marker of bile acid malabsorption in dogs with chronic diarrhoea: a pilot study

Kent, A. C. C.; Cross, G.; Taylor, D. R.; Sherwood, R. A.; Watson, P. J.

In conclusion, this study suggests that C4 measurement is feasible in dogs and may indicate the presence FIG 2: A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for various cut-off levels of serum C4 concentration demonstrating the sensitivity and specificity for the presumed diagnosis of bile acid malabsorption of bile acid malabsorption in some cases. Assuming that bile acid malabsorption occurs in cases with elevated serum C4, 17.6 per cent (3/17; 95 per cent CI 6.2 to 41.0 per cent) of the dogs with chronic diarrhoea in this study may have had bile acid malabsorption, similar to what has been found in people. However, larger studies are needed to define the true prevalence in dogs as the prevalence in this study is speculative. While further studies are needed to explore the clinical significance, clinicians should be aware of the potential for bile acid malabsorption in cases that are poorly responsive to conventional therapies.