title: Cholestatic liver disease and its management.
abstract: Cholestatic syndromes present symptomatically with pruritus and biochemically either with elevated levels of serum bile acid as an early manifestation of hepatocellular disease or with elevated levels of serum alkaline phosphatase if the disease originates in the biliary tree. Slow progression to cirrhosis occurs, with recurrent cholangitis and/or pancreatitis as the major problems if the obstruction is in the larger duct system. Maintenance of nutrition and relief of pruritus are important supportive measures. Colchicine and ursodeoxycholic acid administered orally have been proposed as useful therapies for delaying the progression to cirrhosis. Liver transplantation has proven successful in those patients in whom spontaneous remission does not occur.
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Javitt
mesh_terms: D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D003078:Colchicine; D010634:Phenobarbital