Cholestatic pruritus
| Cholestatic pruritus | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Hepatic pruritus, biliary pruritus |
| Specialty | Gastroenterology, dermatology, hepatology |
Cholestatic pruritus is the sensation of itch due to nearly any liver disease, but the most commonly associated entities are primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, obstructive choledocholithiasis, carcinoma of the bile duct, cholestasis (also see drug-induced pruritus), and chronic hepatitis C viral infection and other forms of viral hepatitis.[1]
Cause
It is thought that bile salts that deposit into the skin are responsible for the pruritus (itching) because the levels of bilirubin in the bloodstream and the severity of the pruritus does not appear to be highly correlated.[2] Patients that have been administered bile salt chelating agents do report some relief, however, and patients that have complete liver cell failure (and therefore cannot make these products to begin with) do not have pruritus. This suggests that products made by the liver must have some role in pruritus although it is not known exactly which product is responsible.
See also
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- List of cutaneous conditions
References
- ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
- ISBN 978-0-07-146690-5.