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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Vinod Hegade, Professor David Jones
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© 2019Cholestasis (impairment of, or reduction in, bile flow) can both predispose to the development of chronic liver disease and result in its own specific symptoms. The severity of cholestatic symptoms (which themselves often impair quality of life) is typically independent of the severity of the underlying liver disease, the link with cholestasis therefore frequently being missed. The most characteristic symptoms of cholestasis are pruritus and fatigue, the former being the most responsive to treatment. After excluding surgically or endoscopically treatable biliary tree obstruction, the first-line treatment for cholestatic pruritus is colestyramine. Rifampicin and the oral opiate antagonist naltrexone are effective second-line treatments with a good evidence base. There is currently no licensed or recommended therapy for fatigue and the approach is largely supportive. Osteoporosis can complicate cholestatic liver disease, although the risk has previously been overstated. The highest additional cholestasis-associated risk is seen in male patients, in patients taking corticosteroids and in the most severely cholestatic patients. Patients should undergo formal bone mineral density screening, and bisphosphonate treatment is highly effective.
Author(s): Hegade VS, Jones DE
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Medicine
Year: 2019
Volume: 47
Issue: 12
Pages: 818-821
Print publication date: 01/12/2019
Acceptance date: 02/04/2018
ISSN (print): 1357-3039
ISSN (electronic): 1365-4357
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mpmed.2019.09.009
DOI: 10.1016/j.mpmed.2019.09.009
