(HP08) Serum and Fecal Bile Acid Profiles in Dogs with Liver Disease

Abstract: Background – Synthesis and secretion of bile acids (BA) is a key hepatic function. Altered serum and fecal BA concentrations have been described in humans with liver disease. Objective – Compare serum BA (SBA) and fecal BA (FBA) profiles between healthy control dogs (controls) and dogs with liver disease. Animals – 26 controls, 5 dogs with acute liver disease (ALD), 5 dogs with chronic hepatitis (CH), and 6 dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Controls had not received oral antibiotics for ≥ 6 months, dogs with liver disease for ≥ 3 months. Dogs with liver disease were not receiving any choleretics. Methods – Observational cross-sectional study. Concentrations of 29 SBA and FBA (including unconjugated, taurine- and glycine-conjugated, and iso- and oxo-BA) were measured by a LC-MS/MS method. Groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis tests adjusted for multiple comparisons. For significant parameters, individual groups were compared with a Dunn’s post-hoc test. Results – In ALD, serum glycolithocholic acid (p = 0.0014), serum taurocholic acid (p = 0.0019), and fecal 3oxo-chenodeoxycholic acid (p = 0.0131) were higher compared to controls. In CH, fecal 3oxo-chenodeoxycholic acid (p = 0.0323) was higher compared to controls. In HCC, serum taurocholic acid (p = 0.0281) and fecal chenodeoxycholic acid (p = 0.0047) were higher compared to controls. Other comparisons between groups were not statistically significantly different. Conclusions and clinical importance – Dogs with ALD, CH, and HCC had altered SBA and FBA profiles compared to controls.