Cholestasis
Cholestasis occurs when bile flow from the liver slows or becomes blocked. It can be related to liver disease, medicines, pregnancy, or bile-duct problems.
About cholestasis
Cholestasis occurs when bile flow from the liver slows or becomes blocked. It can be related to liver disease, medicines, pregnancy, or bile-duct problems.
What can cause it?
Cholestasis means bile flow slows or stops because of liver disease, a bile-duct blockage, medicine effects, pregnancy, or inherited conditions.
Accumulated bile substances cause itching, jaundice, and abnormal liver tests.
What a patient may notice
Symptoms vary from person to person. Possible signs may include:
- Itching
- Yellow skin or eyes
- Dark urine, pale stool, nausea, or right upper abdominal discomfort
How clinicians find the cause
Evaluation uses liver tests, medication and pregnancy review, ultrasound, and sometimes MRI, specialized blood testing, or liver biopsy.
Treatment and next steps
- 1
Treatment targets the cause—removing a blockage, changing a medicine under supervision, or treating liver or pregnancy-related disease.
- 2
Medicines may be prescribed for itching or bile-flow disorders.
- 3
Fever with jaundice may represent emergency cholangitis.
Supporting recovery
- Do not stop prescription medicine without speaking to the prescriber.
- Avoid alcohol and unapproved supplements while liver disease is being evaluated.
What to expect
The outlook depends on why bile flow has slowed or stopped. Cholestasis may improve after a blockage is relieved, an offending medicine is safely changed, pregnancy ends, or the underlying liver condition is treated. Long-lasting cholestasis requires follow-up to protect nutrition, bones, liver function, and quality of life.
Possible complications
- Deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K with bleeding or nutrition problems
- Weak or softened bones from prolonged difficulty absorbing vitamin D and calcium
- Bile-duct infection, progressive liver scarring, or liver failure depending on the cause
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Arrange an evaluation when symptoms are new, worsening, interfering with normal activities, or not improving as expected.
Fever with jaundice, severe abdominal pain, confusion, fainting, vomiting blood, or pregnancy with severe symptoms needs urgent evaluation.Get emergency help for severe trouble breathing, new chest pressure, fainting, seizure, sudden weakness on one side, uncontrolled bleeding, blue or gray lips, or a person who is difficult to wake.
Ways to lower risk
- Use medicines as directed and maintain hepatitis prevention and liver follow-up.
- Many causes are not preventable.
Trusted health information
This CHS patient-education page uses original wording and links to MedlinePlus for additional information.