dual cholate

Dual cholate refers to a diagnostic combination of stable isotope-labeled cholic acid (cholate) used to quantify hepatic functional mass and portal-systemic shunting. The test, often referred to as the Dual Cholate Clearance Test, involves the simultaneous administration of an intravenous dose (typically [24-13C]cholate) and an oral dose (typically [d4]cholate). Because cholate is highly extracted by healthy hepatocytes from the portal blood, the ratio of oral to intravenous clearance (the "shunt") provides a sensitive measure of liver health and blood flow. It is primarily used as a research tool and diagnostic aid in chronic liver diseases, such as Hepatitis C and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), to assess the severity of fibrosis and predict clinical outcomes. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has utilized this test in mechanistic studies to evaluate microbial translocation and liver disease progression.

Brand names

HepQuant

Other names

Dual Cholate Clearance TestCholate Shunt Testdual cholate-National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)