liver and gallbladder disorders
Cholestasis
Introduction
Cholestasis is reduction or stoppage of bile flow. Bile is the digestive fluid produced by the liver. Disorders of the liver, bile duct, or pancreas can cause cholestasis. The skin and whites of the eyes look yellow, the skin itches, urine is dark, and stools may become light-colored and smell foul. Laboratory and often imaging tests are needed to identify the cause. Treatment depends on the cause, but drugs can help relieve itching. (See also Overview of the Liver and Gallbladder , With cholestasis, the flow of bile is impaired at some point between the liver cells (which produce bile) and the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine). When bile flow is stopped, the pigment bilirubin (a waste product formed when old or damaged red blood cells are broken down) escapes into the bloodstream and accumulates. Normally, bilirubin joins with bile in the liver, moves through the bile ducts into the digestive tract, and is eliminated from the body. Most bilirubin is eliminated in stool, but a small amount is eliminated in urine. 