Radiological bile acid absorption test 75SeHCAT in patients with diarrhoea of unknown cause.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose with this study was to investigate the usefulness of the 75SeHCAT test in patients suffering from "functional" diarrhoea and to disclose earlier radiological investigations performed in the course of disease.


METHODS
Twenty patients with chronic diarrhoea of unknown cause were investigated with the 75SeHCAT test. The cholestyramine test and an estimation of oro-caecal transit time (OCTT) were also performed in 13 and 10 patients respectively.


RESULTS
Ten patients had low 7-day retention (< or = 15%). Nine of these were tested with cholestyramine and 8 showed complete relief from the diarrhoea. The cholestyramine test had no effect on the 4 patients with normal bile acid retention. No correlation was found between the retention of 75SeHCAT and OCCT. A total of 80 inconclusive gastrointestinal barium examinations were performed during the course of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Pathological bile acid retention, studied with the radiological 75SeHCAT test, is common in patients with diarrhoea of unknown cause. The test should be performed earlier in the course of disease in order to prevent unnecessary radiological investigations and to reduce patient suffering and distress.
Rudberg
U
U
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, St. Göran's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Nylander
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; D003287:Contrast Media; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007422:Intestines / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012644:Selenium Radioisotopes; D013656:Taurocholic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D003287:Contrast Media; D012644:Selenium Radioisotopes; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D013656:Taurocholic Acid; C033638:23-seleno-25-homotaurocholic acid