Abstract
Cholestatic liver disease encompasses a detrimental group of diseases that are non-discriminatory in nature. These diseases occur over every age range from infancy (biliary atresia) to geriatrics (hepatitis). They also cover both genders in the form of primary sclerosing cholangitis in men and primary biliary cholangitis in women. Oftentimes, owing to the disease progression and extensive scarring, the treatment of last resort becomes a liver transplant. In this review, we will briefly discuss and explore new avenues of understanding in the progression of cholestatic liver disease and possible therapeutic targets for intervention. The greater our understanding into the idiopathic nature of cholestatic liver disease, the better our chances of discovering treatment options to halt or reverse the progression, reducing or eliminating the need for expensive and risky transplants.
Highlights
The hepatobiliary system, a crucial part of the digestive system, is made up of the liver, gall bladder, and bile ducts, a complex network of tubular intra- and extra-hepatic ducts that converge to drain bile into the duodenum to aid in fat digestion and the transportation of wastes[1]
There is a wide array of disease states targeting the cholangiocytes, termed cholangiopathies, many of which are induced by cholestasis
Cholestasis is defined as a bile flow decrease caused by either defective hepatocyte secretions or the physical obstruction of bile through the intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts[4]
Summary
The hepatobiliary system, a crucial part of the digestive system, is made up of the liver, gall bladder, and bile ducts, a complex network of tubular intra- and extra-hepatic ducts that converge to drain bile into the duodenum to aid in fat digestion and the transportation of wastes[1]. Cholangiocytes are responsible for the modification of bile fluidity and alkalinity after secretion of the major bile osmolytes and various constituents by the hepatocyte[1,2,3]. These ducts, or channels, are part of a larger three-dimensional structure known as the biliary tree, which branches into the surrounding liver parenchyma[2]. Cholestasis is defined as a bile flow decrease caused by either defective hepatocyte secretions or the physical obstruction of bile through the intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts[4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
