Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cholestasis
Introduction
Synonyms and Keywords: Intrahepatic cholestasis; Extrahepatic cholestasis
Cholestasis is any condition in which the flow of bile from the liver is blocked.
What are the symptoms of Cholestasis?
Symptoms of Cholestasis may include:
- Clay-colored or white stools
- Dark urine
- Inability to digest certain foods
- Itching
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain in the right upper part of the abdomen
- Yellow skin or eyes
What causes Cholestasis?
There are many causes of cholestasis.
- Extrahepatic cholestasis occurs outside the liver. It can be caused by:
- Bile duct tumors
- Cysts
- Narrowing of the bile duct (strictures)
- Stones in the common bile duct
- Pancreatitis
- Pancreatic tumor or pseudocyst
- Pressure on an organ due to a nearby mass or tumor
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis
- Intrahepatic cholestasis occurs inside the liver. It can be caused by:
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Amyloidosis
- Bacterial abscess in the liver
- Being fed through a vein (IV)
- Lymphoma
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Primary biliary cirrhosis
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis
- Sarcoidosis
- Serious infections that have spread through the bloodstream (sepsis)
- Tuberculosis
- Viral hepatitis
- Sjogren syndrome
- Certain medications can also cause cholestasis.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if you have:
- Persistent itching
- Yellow skin or eyes
- Other symptoms of cholestasis
Diagnosis
- Blood tests may show higher than normal levels of bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase.
- Imaging tests are used to diagnose this condition. Tests include:
- CT scan of the abdomen
- MRI of the abdomen
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (can also determine cause)
- Ultrasound of the abdomen
Treatment options
The underlying cause of cholestasis must be treated.
Where to find medical care for Cholestasis?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Cholestasis
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
- How well a person does depends on the disease causing the condition. Stones in the common bile duct usually can be removed, curing the cholestasis.
- Stents can be placed to open areas of the common bile duct that are narrowed or blocked by cancers.
Possible complications
- Diarrhea
- Organ failure can occur if sepsis develops
- Poor absorption of fat and fat-soluble vitamins
- Severe itching
- Weak bones (osteomalacia) and osteoporosis (due to very long-term cholestasis)
Prevention
- Get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B if you are at risk.
- Avoid intravenous drug use and needle sharing.
Sources
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Meagan E. Doherty
Want to know more?
A more detailed clinical article for the same condition is available from WikiDoc. It is written for medical professionals and uses technical language.