Cholestasis

Cholestasis
Cholestasis
Classification and external resources

Micrograph showing bile (yellow) stasis, i.e. cholestasis. H&E stain.
ICD-10 K71.0, K83.1
ICD-9 576.2
DiseasesDB 9121
eMedicine ped/383
MeSH D002779

In medicine, cholestasis is a condition where bile cannot flow from the liver to the duodenum. The two basic distinctions are an obstructive type of cholestasis where there is a mechanical blockage in the duct system such as can occur from a gallstone or malignancy and metabolic types of cholestasis which are disturbances in bile formation that can occur because of genetic defects or acquired as a side effect of many medications.

Contents

Normal bile formation

Bile formation is a secretory function of the liver. It begins in bile canaliculi that form between two adjacent surfaces of liver cells (hepatocytes) similar to the terminal branches of a tree. The canaliculi join each other to form larger and larger structures, sometimes referred to as Canals of Hering, which themselves join to form small bile ductules that have an epithelial surface. The ductules join to form bile ducts that eventually form either the right main hepatic duct that drains the right lobe of the liver, or the left main hepatic duct draining the left lobe of the liver. The two ducts join to form the common hepatic duct, which in turn joins the cystic duct from the gall bladder, to give the common bile duct. This duct then enters the duodenum at the ampulla of Vater.

Etiology

Histopathology

Under a microscope, the individual hepatocytes will have a brownish-green stippled appearance within the cytoplasm, representing bile that cannot get out of the cell. Canalicular bile plugs between individual hepatocytes or within bile ducts may also be seen, representing bile that has been excreted from the hepatocytes but cannot go any further due to the obstruction. When these plugs occur within the bile duct, sufficient pressure (caused by bile accumulation) can cause them to rupture, spilling bile into the surrounding tissue, causing hepatic necrosis. These areas are known as bile lakes, and are typically seen only with extra-hepatic obstruction.

Biochemical pathology

Cholestasis can be suspected when there is an elevation of both 5'-nucleotidase and ALP enzymes. With a few exceptions, the optimal test for cholestasis would be elevations of serum bile acid levels. However, this is not normally available in most clinical settings. The gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) enzyme was previously thought to be helpful in confirming a hepatic source of ALP; however, GGT elevations are markedly sensitive and lack the necessary specificity to be a useful confirmatory test for ALP. Normally GGT and ALP are anchored to membranes of hepatocytes and are released in small amounts in hepatocellular damage. In cholestasis, synthesis of these enzymes is induced and they are made soluble. GGT is elevated because it leaks out from the bile duct cells due to pressure from inside bile duct.

In a later stage of cholestasis AST, ALT and bilirubin may be elevated due to liver damage as a secondary effect of cholestasis.

Symptoms

  • itchiness (pruritus). Pruritus is the primary symptom of cholestasis and is thought to be due to interactions of serum bile acids with opioidergic nerves. In fact, the mixed opioid agonist/antagonist Naltrexone is used to treat pruritus due to cholestasis.
  • jaundice. Jaundice is an uncommon occurrence in intrahepatic cholestasis, but is common in obstructive cholestasis.
  • pale stool. This symptom implies obstructive cholestasis.
  • dark urine

Bile is secreted by the liver to aid in the digestion of fats. Drugs such as gold salts, nitrofurantoin, anabolic steroids, chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, sulindac, cimetidine, erythromycin, and estrogen can cause cholestasis and may result in damage to the liver.

See also

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cholestasis — Any condition in which the release of bile from the liver is blocked. The blockage can occur in the liver (intrahepatic cholestasis) or in the bile ducts (extrahepatic cholestasis) …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • cholestasis — See cholestasia. intrahepatic c. of pregnancy intrahepatic c. with centrilobular bile staining without inflammatory cells or proliferation of mesenchymal cells; clinically characterized by pruritus and/or icter …   Medical dictionary

  • cholestasis — n. failure of normal amounts of bile to reach the intestine, resulting in obstructive jaundice. The cause may be a mechanical block in the bile ducts, such as a stone (extrahepatic biliary obstruction), or liver disease, such as that caused by… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • cholestasis — noun a condition in which little or no bile is secreted or the flow of bile into the digestive tract is obstructed • Syn: ↑acholia • Hypernyms: ↑disorder, ↑upset * * * cholestatic /koh leuh stat ik, kol euh /, adj. /koh leuh stay sis, stas is,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Cholestasis with peripheral pulmonary stenosis — Also known as arteriohepatic dysplasia or Alagille syndrome, this ia a genetic disorder characterized by yellowing of the skin (jaundice) in the newborn period, liver disease with cholestasis, peripheral pulmonic stenosis and unusual face.… …   Medical dictionary

  • cholestasis — noun (plural cholestases) Etymology: New Latin Date: circa 1935 a checking or failure of bile flow • cholestatic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cholestasis — cholestatic /koh leuh stat ik, kol euh /, adj. /koh leuh stay sis, stas is, kol euh /, n. Pathol. total or partial suppression of the flow of bile. [1930 35; CHOLE + STASIS] * * * …   Universalium

  • cholestasis — noun The suppression of the flow of bile caused by an obstruction associated with the liver …   Wiktionary

  • cholestasis — cho·le·sta·sis …   English syllables

  • cholestasis — cho•le•sta•sis [[t]ˌkoʊ ləˈsteɪ sɪs, ˈstæs ɪs, ˌkɒl ə [/t]] n. pat impairment of the flow of bile • Etymology: 1930–35 cho le•stat′ic ˈstæt ɪk adj …   From formal English to slang

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