Clinical relevance

Total bile acids levels are a sensitive marker for liver function, reflecting hepatic synthesis, secretion and re-absorption. Elevated TBA serum levels due to impaired hepatic clearance, are a sensitive indicator for liver diseases, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, cholestasis and others. Significant increases in total bile acids in pregnant women can be used in the diagnosis of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

TBA levels in human stool play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of bile acids malabsorption (BAM). This may lead to various gastrointestinal tract disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), bile acid diarrhea (BAD or Crohn’s disease) [1-5].