diagnosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
Cholestasis is confirmed by:
- elevated serum bilirubin - in proportion to duration of cholestasis; returns to normal once cholestasis is relieved
- raised serum alkaline phosphatase - to more than 3X upper limit of normal;
- LFTs - aminotransferases mildly raised; raised gamma GT
- increased urinary bilirubin
- urinary urinobilinogen is excreted in proportion to amount of bile reaching the duodenum i.e. absence of urinobilinogen indicates complete biliary obstruction
Identification of cause:
- dilated ducts on ultrasound - percutaneous transhepatic cholangiograpy
- undilated ducts on ultrasound - endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography
- needle biopsy of the liver