Changes

==Clinical Significance==

==Clinical Significance==

The competence of the enterohepatic circulation is usually assessed by performing a bile acid stimulation test, where an animal fasted for 12 hours is then fed a test meal and the serum bile acid concentration is measured before and two hors after the meal.  The post-prandial measurement may be '''elevated''' in the following conditions:

The competence of enterohepatic circulation is usually assessed dynamically by performing a bile acid stimulation test; the patient is fasted for 12 hours and then fed a test meal and the serum bile acid concentration are measured before and two hours after the meal.  The post-prandial measurement may be '''elevated''' in the following conditions:

*'''Hepatobiliary disease''', but the type of disease cannot be determined from this finding alone.

*'''Cholestasis''', including the mild cholestasis that occurs due to hepatic hydropic change in [[Canine Hyperadrenocorticism - Cushing's Disease|hyperadrenocorticism]] in dogs and [[Biliary Tract - Obstruction|extra-hepatic biliary obstruction]].

*'''Hepatobiliary disease'''; this is a non specific test for hepatobiliary disease.

*'''Cholestasis''', including the mild cholestasis that occurs due to hepatic hydropic change in [[Hyperadrenocorticism|hyperadrenocorticism]] in dogs and [[Biliary Tract Obstruction|extra-hepatic biliary obstruction]].

*[[Portosystemic Shunt|'''Portosystemic shunts''']] or [[Hepatic Microvascular Dysplasia|'''microvascular dysplasia''']], in which the portal blood is directed into the systemic circulation, disrupting the enterohepatic circulation.

*[[Portosystemic Shunt|'''Portosystemic shunts''']] or [[Hepatic Microvascular Dysplasia|'''microvascular dysplasia''']], in which the portal blood is directed into the systemic circulation, disrupting the enterohepatic circulation.

*[[Antibiotic Responsive Diarrhoea|'''Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth''']] due to deconjugation of bile acids by intestinal bacteria.

*[[Antibiotic Responsive Diarrhoea|'''Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth''']] due to deconjugation of bile acids by intestinal bacteria.

*Increased post-prandial bile acid concentration may be a normal finding in '''Maltese terriers'''.

*Increased post-prandial bile acid concentration may be a normal finding in '''Maltese terriers'''.

'''Deficiency''' of bile acids is extremely rare, even with severe hepatic insufficiency.

'''Deficiency''' of bile acids is extremely rare, even with severe hepatic insufficiency.

[[Category:Blood Biochemistry Changes]]

[[Category:Blood Biochemistry Changes]]