Extrahepatic complications of chronic cholestasis: current diagnosis and treatment.
Pruritus, fatigue and osteoporosis are the main symptoms of the extra hepatic manifestations of chronic cholestasis that affect patients' quality of life. Pruritus affects more often female patients, varies as intensity during a day and for longer period of time, typically can be localized on the palms of hands and soles of feet or can be generalized. Pruritus can be treated with anions resines exchange--cholestiramine, the pregnanne X receptor agonist Rifampicine, Naltrexone. Liver transplantation can be considered if severe pruritus remains refractory to all medical treatments. Fatigue is the most disabling complain in chronic colestasis. No specific therapies are available for fatigue and liver transplantation doesn't improve it. Osteoporosis and the risk of fractures are more severe with the duration and severity of hepatic disease. For treatment are recommended regular physical exercise, vitamin D and Ca supplimentation and bisphosphonates (Alendronate 70 mg/week) in severe cases. Only patients with atherosclerotic risk and hyperlipemia can be treated with statines. Fat soluble vitamin supplementation can be administrated only in symptomatic and proved vitamin deficiency.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa"--Iaşi
Cristina Cijevschi
CC
Prelipcean
Cătălina
C
Mihai
P
P
Gogălniceanu
B
B
Mihai
D000982:Antipruritics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001651:Cholestasis, Extrahepatic / Q000150:complications; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015444:Exercise; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000982:Antipruritics; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium