Current progress in our understanding of cholestasis and chronic cholestatic disorders
2007; Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology; Volume: 14; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1792-7463
Autores Tópico(s)Liver Diseases and Immunity
ResumoGeorge V. Papatheodoridis, MD, 1 Ath. Diakou str., 152 35 Vrilissia, Greece, Tel: 00301-6130485, Fax: 00301-6138036, e-mail: gpapath@cc.uoa.gr Cholestasis results from any cause that impairs bile acid transport from the liver to the intestine. The formation of bile as well as the biliary secretion of many endogenous and exogenous substances are essential functions of the liver. The secretion of bile depends on the function of several transporters found on the membranes of hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. Many of these transporters have now been cloned, several molecular defects have been identified and associated with various forms of cholestatic diseases. At the histological level, chronic cholestastic diseases result from inflammatory and destructive processes that may involve the intrahepatic and/ or extrahepatic biliary tree or from developmental defects. Most chronic cholestatic diseases may progress towards biliary cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and eventually hepatocellular insufficiency. Chronic cholestatic conditions can be separated into those presented mainly in infancy and childhood and those presented first in adulthood (Table 1). This review summarizes some of the recent developments in our understanding of the hepatobiliary transport as well as of the pathogenesis and classification of chronic cholestatic disorders.
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