Bile acids

What is Bile Acid Total, Serum?
The bile acid total, serum test is used to evaluate the normal functioning of the liver. Bile acids help in the absorption of food during digestion. These are synthesized in the liver and are secreted in the intestine to break down the fat of the ingested food. This test is a part of preventive health screening for liver disease.

 

The bile acid test is a reliable marker to diagnose hepatobiliary diseases such as acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver sclerosis, and liver cancer.

Elevated levels of bile acid total could be due to the inability of the liver to extract bile acids from the blood. It could also be a result of a liver cancer, cirrhosis, and dysfunction of the liver due to some injury.

Why is Bile Acid Total, Serum done?
The bile acid, total test is done to diagnose hepatobiliary diseases such as acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver sclerosis, liver cancer, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

What does Bile Acid Total, Serum Measure?
The bile acid, total test measures the levels of bile acid, total in the blood. Total bile acids are metabolized in the liver and hence they can be used for evaluating the normal functioning of liver.

The cause of elevated levels of bile acid, total is due to the inability of the liver to extract bile acids from the portal blood. Rise in levels of bile acid, total can be observed in acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver sclerosis, liver cancer, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

In case of obstetric cholestasis, the diagnosis is confirmed if the bile acid concentrations are greater than 15 μmol/L and there is an absence of any other hepatic disease. In case the bile acid concentrations are greater than 40 μmol/L, it is then associated with increased fetal risk.