Cholestasis is any condition in which the flow of bile from the liver is blocked.

Intrahepatic cholestasis; Extrahepatic cholestasis

There are many causes of cholestasis.

Extrahepatic cholestasis occurs outside the liver. It can be caused by:

• Bile duct tumors
• Cysts
• Narrowing of the bile duct (strictures)
• Stones in the common bile duct
• Pancreatitis
• Pancreatic tumor or pseudocyst
• Pressure on an organ due to a nearby mass or tumor
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Intrahepatic cholestasis occurs inside the liver. It can be caused by:

• Alcoholic liver disease
• Amyloidosis
• Bacterial abscess in the liver
• Being fed through a vein (IV)
• Lymphoma
• Pregnancy
• Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Sarcoidosis
• Serious infections that have spread through the bloodstream (sepsis)
• Tuberculosis
• Viral hepatitis

Certain medications can also cause cholestasis. See: Drug-induced cholestasis

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Cholestasis Symptoms

Review Date: 05/23/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)