Cholestasis Flashcards
(10 cards)
What type of drug is colestyramine?
A bile acid sequestrant.
How does colestyramine work in cholestasis?
It binds bile acids in the gut, preventing their reabsorption and reducing bile acid levels that cause pruritus.
What is ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)?
A hydrophilic bile acid used to treat cholestasis. It promotes bile flow, protects liver cells, and reduces toxicity from hydrophobic bile acids.
What is cholestasis?
Reduced or stopped bile flow causing bile acids to build up in the liver and bloodstream.
What symptoms may cholestasis cause?
Fatigue, pruritus (itching), dark urine, pale stools, jaundice, and signs of fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies.
What causes pruritus in cholestasis?
Excess bile acids deposited in the skin due to impaired bile flow and increased serum bile acid levels.
What is the first-line drug treatment for cholestatic pruritus?
Colestyramine.
How does colestyramine relieve pruritus in cholestasis?
By binding bile acids in the intestine to form an insoluble complex, reducing serum bile acid levels and their deposition in skin.
What is intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy?
A cholestasis that occurs usually in late pregnancy, associated with adverse fetal outcomes.
Which drug is effective for treating pruritus in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy?
Ursodeoxycholic acid.
