Definition

Noun: A medical condition characterized by a reduction or complete stoppage of bile flow. This can occur due to a failure in bile secretion by the liver cells or a physical obstruction preventing bile from entering the digestive tract.

Usage

The term is used in medical contexts to describe a specific pathological state affecting the biliary system. * The patient's jaundice and itching were caused by cholestasis. * The doctor ordered tests to determine if the cholestasis was intrahepatic or extrahepatic.

Advanced Usage

• Intrahepatic cholestasis: Refers to cholestasis originating within the liver, often due to cellular dysfunction (e.g., drug-induced, viral hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis).
  • Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a liver disorder that can occur in the third trimester.
• Extrahepatic cholestasis: Refers to cholestasis caused by a blockage in the bile ducts outside the liver (e.g., from a gallstone or tumor).
  • An ERCP procedure can both diagnose and treat some causes of extrahepatic cholestasis.

Variants and Related Words

• Cholestatic (adjective): Relating to or characterized by cholestasis.
  • The patient exhibited cholestatic liver enzyme patterns.

Synonyms

• Bile stasis
• Obstructive jaundice (specifically for extrahepatic causes, though cholestasis itself may not always cause visible jaundice initially)

Noun

1. a condition in which little or no bile is secreted or the flow of bile into the digestive tract is obstructed