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Bile Acid Malabsorption

Kathleen Barry, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Bile acid malabsorption is a chronic diarrheal illness caused by improper absorption of bile acids in the small intestine. Bile acids in the colon lead to abdominal discomfort, bloat...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Patients usually present with weight loss and diarrhea.

  • Diarrhea is watery and non-bloody

  • Other associated symptoms include abdominal discomfort, bloating, and fecal urgency (1,2,3).

  • A ...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

  • Bile acid sequestrants are the mainstay of treatment and may improve abdominal symptoms and stooling.

  • 70-96% patients with chronic diarrhea from bile acid malabsorption respond to ...

ONGOING CARE

In patients with bile acid malabsorption due to IBD, treatment of IBD may improve malabsorption symptoms. 

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

No specific follow-up recommendations. 

Patient Monitoring

REFERENCES

1
Camilleri M, Vijayvargiya P. The Role of Bile Acids in Chronic Diarrhea. Am J Gastroenterol. 2020;115(10):1596-1603. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000696.
2
Lupianez-Merly C, Dilmaghani S, Cam...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Suspect bile acid malabsorption in patients with diarrhea who also complain of abdominal discomfort, bloating, and fecal urgency.       

  • Consider empiric treatment with a short course ...

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