[Cholestasis: therapeutic options]

Abstract

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been shown to be both an effective and well-tolerated treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis, a model chronic cholestatic liver disease. Beneficial effects of UDCA have also been observed in other cholestatic disorders such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, cystic fibrosis, or intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice in end stage chronic cholestatic liver disease. Symptomatic therapeutic concepts include the treatment of cholestasis-associated problems such as pruritus, osteopathy and vitamin deficiency.