The Specific Bile Acid Profile of Shock: A Hypothesis Generating Appraisal of the Literature

Background: Bile acid synthesis and regulation of metabolism are tightly regulated. In critical illness, these regulations are impaired. Consequently, the physiologic bile acid pattern in serum becomes disturbed and a disease-specific bile acid profile seems to become evident. Methods: A literature review was performed and trials reporting the broken-down bile acid pattern were condensed with regard to percent differences in bile acid profiles of defined diseases compared to a human control. Results: Ten articles were identified. Most of the studied bile acid profiles differ statistically significant between disease states, furthermore, neither of the reported disease entities show the same broken-down pattern of individual bile acids. Deoxycholic acid (DCA) was found to be decreased in almost all diseases, except for the two shock-states investigated (cardiogenic shock, septic shock) where it was elevated by about 100% compared to the control. Moreover, the pattern of both examined shock-states are very similar, rendering a specific shock-pattern possible, that we argue could eventually maintain or even worsen the pathological state. Conclusion: The specific broken-down bile acid profile of defined diseases might aid in gaining insight into the body’s adaptive reaction and the differential diagnosis, as well as in the therapy of disease states in the early course of the disease.