Bile acid diarrhoea
In this episode, Charlie Andrews speaks to Professor Julian Walters about bile acid malabsorption and diarrhoea. With up to a third of patients with diarrhoea-predominant IBS having underlying bile acid diarrhoea, and with diagnosis rates for this condition being low, this episode is an important one for anyone working in primary care. We explore the role and physiology of bile acids, the causes and symptoms of bile acid malabsorption, the diagnostic tests used to make the diagnosis and the treatment of this common but underdiagnosed condition. Should we use ‘trial of treatment’ in primary care to support the diagnosis? Are people who have had their gall bladder removed at greater risk of bile acid diarrhoea? Can bile acid sequestrants impact the absorption of other medications? These questions, and lots more, will be discussed in this episode!
