What are the symptoms of cholestatic liver disease?
Apr 17, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Introduction
Cholestatic hepatitis can easily impair liver function, leading to the body's inability to properly metabolize sufficient glycogen, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue. If liver function is severely impaired, bile stasis occurs, which hampers fat breakdown and causes digestive symptoms including loss of appetite. Obstruction of bile secretion leads to bile accumulation; unconjugated bilirubin that cannot be normally metabolized circulates through the bloodstream to various parts of the body, causing itching.
Generally, symptoms of cholestatic liver disease include fatigue, loss of appetite, and skin itching. The details are as follows:
1. Fatigue
The liver is a vital metabolic organ. Once cholestatic hepatitis develops, liver function may be impaired, leading to the body's inability to properly metabolize sufficient glycogen, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue and drowsiness.
2. Loss of appetite
If liver function is severely impaired, bile accumulation occurs, which hinders fat breakdown and leads to digestive system symptoms such as reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, and aversion to greasy foods.
3. Skin itching
Impaired bile secretion causes bile to accumulate, affecting bilirubin excretion. Bilirubin that cannot be normally metabolized circulates through the bloodstream to various parts of the body, causing itching. The severity of itching varies; severe itching may lead to skin scratch marks and blood crusts.
In addition, symptoms such as jaundice may also occur. If any abnormal symptoms appear, prompt medical attention is necessary, and attention should be paid to improving quality of life during the illness.
