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Cholestasis

Meaning

Cholestasis is a distinct clinical syndrome defined by the pathological impairment of bile flow from the liver’s bile ducts into the small intestine, leading to the systemic accumulation of bile components in the bloodstream and liver parenchyma. This disruption can result from either a mechanical obstruction of the bile ducts or a functional defect in the hepatocyte’s bile secretion process. Sustained cholestasis carries the risk of progressive liver damage, malabsorption of essential fat-soluble vitamins, and the distressing symptom of pruritus.